The Lower Similkameen Indian Band (LSIB) is looking for volunteers to help replant land bured in the Ashnola area by the 2023 Crater Creek Wildfire, as well as inviting people to join their celebration of restoration on May 31.
The LSIB started rehabilitation efforts after the fire in 2023 and continued in 2024, including areas around Cawston, and are planning to begin their next phase of restoration on May 27.
So far, 50,000 trees and shrubs have been planted by volunteers, according to a poster calling for volunteers.
In addition to the LSIB, Corvidae Environmental Consulting and Cariboo Carbon Solutions are also working on the project.
Corvidae will be doing habitat rehabilitation and live plant staking from May 28 to 30.
Starting May 30, Cariboo will be leading the tree planting in the region. The current phase of replanting is expected to take a couple weeks.
About 540 hectares of land that was scorched by the Crater Creek Wildfire have been identified as high priority for restoration out of the more than 46,000 hectares the blaze covered.
Over those 540 hectares of priority land, the goal is to plant more than 840,000 trees by 2027.
The replanting will help stabilize banks and hillsides, prevent further erosion, provide cooling, support food sovereignty, sustain vital ecosystems in the area and ensure wildlife habitat is rehabilitated, the LSIB said.
The celebration of past and future restoration efforts will be held at the Ashnola campground at 1400 Ashnola Rd.
The community is invited to arrive starting at 10 a.m., with opening remarks and updates on restoration projects beginning at 11 a.m.
Following a prayer at noon, there will be a lunch and snack bar followed by entertainment, activities and door prices until 4 p.m.
Anyone interested in volunteering or learning more information may contact Tiinesha Begaye by emailing tb.archaeology@gmail.com or phoning 778-931-0305.
