September 15, 2023 – Infrastructure Canada must determine whether the proposed Food Security and Cultural Garden project on the on Inklyuhkinatko Reserve No. 2, of the Skuppah Indian Band, south of Lytton, BC is likely to cause significant adverse environmental effects.

To help inform this determination, Infrastructure Canada is inviting comments from the public respecting that determination. All comments will be considered public. For more information, individuals should consult the Privacy Notice on the Registry website (https://iaac-aeic.gc.ca/050/evaluations/Protection?culture=en-CA).

Written comments must be submitted by October 16, 2023 to:

Marika Haspeck, Environmental Review Officer, Infrastructure Canada (marika.haspeck@infc.gc.ca)

The Proposed Project

The proposed project is the construction of the landscape infrastructure required to establish a food security and cultural garden across the road from the Skuppah Food Security Centre Building, located within the Inklyuhkinatko No. 2 Reserve south of Lytton, BC.

Project activities will include:

• Landscape design of the garden
• Supply and installation of hardscaping, aggregates and granular material, topsoil, hydraulic seeding, and plant material
• Installation of fencing and site furnishings
• Installation of walking paths and trails
• Installation of an irrigation system
• All other related works

This project takes place on federal lands (Inklyuhkinatko No. 2 Reserve of the Skuppah Indian Band) and has requirements under s. 82 of the Impact Assessment Act. Project works will require vegetation clearing for constructing walking paths and trails on undeveloped land covered by grass. Excavation works will be required on undeveloped land for irrigation system and burning pit. The closest waterbody is ~50 m away.

This project will enable Skuppah Indian Band to grow food on-site to safeguard and supplement their food supply, allowing them to be more self-sustaining in the wake of natural disasters that repeatedly disrupt their access to food from sources outside their community. In addition, the project will create an outdoor space that supports opportunities to host traditional food related events by nearby communities such as fish camps, canning workshops, hunting training, and food markets. Incorporating natural infrastructure will lessen their ecological footprint through waste reductio, rainwater harvesting, infiltration gardens, and tree planting.