The last time "Inchelium" and "blockade" were mentioned in the same sentence, it was a moment of great pride for the local Sinixt people. They were up in the Vallican in British Columbia in the 1980s, protecting the sacred land of their then-declared extinct people.
In 2017, however, an Inchelium blockade of a much-utilized road started by tribal member Ben Marchand Sr., a Colville Business Council candidate in this year's primary, has done quite the opposite. Barring people from traveling Shortcut Road — known as Boise Haul Road on Google Maps — has provided a thorn in the side of many local residents.
I visited the blockade this week, where three green heavy duty gates prohibit movement. I decided to call Ben and see what the issue was. He declined to comment, citing legal reasons. But he did say he wasn't solely responsible for the shutdown. He said he started it and the Bureau of Indian Affairs came and reinforced it. He said to call him next week.
The issue has gone (locally) viral on Facebook. Many have expressed their frustrations, as they habitually attempt to travel the road only to be re-routed. Sifting through the posts, here are six reasons Ben should tear it down.
- You have aspirations to be a tribal leader. You may not have moved past the primaries this year, but it's still conceivable that you could be elected in the coming years. These kinds of things make voters move away from checking your box.
- The construction of fiber optic infrastructure — what many have said is the reason for the halt — benefits the community's education and health facilities greatly. Maybe there was an error in planning by attempting to go through your land without asking permission, but your own tribe has invested big bucks on a project that will help its members, including several of your own relatives.
- School kids are at risk. Because the Shortcut Road is used frequently by logging trucks — who now have to drive by the Inchelium's K-12 school — children are at more of a risk than ever. Kids are all over the road as they walk to and depart from school; many unaccompanied by parents. As Lisa Conrad says, "logging trucks can't stop on a dime."
- Residents are also at risk. What happens when a resident in our rural community has an emergency? Every second counts, and the blockade will surely extend the amount of time it takes for local EMTs to respond. Jennifer Barr, a tribal member with Emergency Medical Technician experience, says "hope that it doesn't end badly for someone." Tammy Finley adds "a few minutes to go around could be life or death for a person in medical distress. [The blockade] is a hazard."
- You're constructing a future business there. According to a Qwmp Qwmpt voter guide, a restaurant is planned. We haven't had a full-fledged restaurant — an everyday hub for our people — in downtown Inchelium since the Steem-Uss Spaoos. The community hasn't been the same since it was demolished in 2008. Is blocking the future entrance to your business a customer-welcoming move?
- Historically, the road was constructed as a means to make the community safer. Nancy Michel was in high school when Shortcut Road was being constructed on her uncle Ike Stensgar's allotment (it transferred hands in the Stensgar family before it was sold to Ben, she said). "[Ike] gave the right [of way] in the 50s for the road to Lincoln Lumber Co.," Michel said, "so that their logging trucks would not have to go through town and up past the school. And for safety reasons."
I'm sure any owner would be upset had they not been advised with a letter of notification that the tribe or BIA were planning to go through their land. To sort of stumble upon people at your property ready to alter it must have been an alarming experience for you Ben. Had you been given ample time, it sounds like you — as a tribal member — would have had the chance to negotiate a deal with the BIA for them to cross your land.
Now, it appears everyone's on your time. Please take into consideration how this blockade is affecting your community.
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