This letter is intended to fill the gap concerning the publicity about the upcoming Jumbo Wild rally on Saturday.
The Jumbo Valley is an easily accessed place. For over 100 years people have been in and out of the Jumbo Valley. Because there has never been permanent development for an all season road, we have an intact eco-system, a completely wild habitat, with all the wild inhabitants in residence.
It is a rare and wonderful valley with four fabulous glaciers. It is a “sacred place.” The Ktunaxa tell us it is the home of the spirit of the grizzly bear.
Grizzly bears are the terrestrial indicator species. Where there is a happy grizzly bear population, there will be all other fauna as well as a full range of flora to support the resident animals. Yet, there are now scientific indicators that the Central Purcell grizzly bear population numbers are greatly reduced to a critical level.
Obviously, putting a city the size of Nelson in this rare and wonderful place is completely unthinkable.
Let’s keep Jumbo wild forever.
Rowena Eloise
Argenta