AN OPEN LETTERFebruary 7, 1998
FROM
Dwayne Edward Rourke
General Delivery
Manson's Landing, B.C. VOP 1KO
ph/fax (250) 935-6336 email: dwayner@oberon.ark.com
website: www.mortimer.com/eskova
TO
Mike and Gladys Jenks
RR1, Site 2, Comp 2
Gabriola Island, BC
VOR 1KO
Dear Mr. & Mrs.Jenks,
Greetings. I write this open letter to you as a new resident of Cortes Island, having moved here with my family from West Vancouver last fall. Over the past several weeks I have witnessed the emergence of a major conflict within the community. Some of that conflict has centered on what is happening on the Twin Islands property which you are partial owners of.
Back in January, in an effort to understand what is occurring on Twin Islands, I jumped on a boat that was part of a protest flotilla going to Twin. Later in the month, I rose early in the morning to witness a blockade preventing your loggers from going to work. Based on my experiences at both of these events, I was moved to call a Logging of Twin Islands Council in the Pioneer Room of our local community hall. That meeting was open to anyone to attend. Thirty people did so.
My sincere request to the assembled group was that we honour and respect all points of view on the subject by participating in the form of group communication called council. The group responded graciously.
Council proceeded by passing an eagle feather from person to person with the whole group giving that person uninterrupted attention as they spoke. The feather changed hands for almost three hours and every person in attendance was given an opportunity to speak.
Some spoke about a their personal relationship with Twin Island, based on experiences of caretaking the island from time to time; some spoke about a concern for the flora, fauna and historical heritage of the island; others spoke about maintaining the right to freedom of choice in managing private property. One of the loggers currently working for you spoke of the importance of logging as livelihood and of his family roots in the industry. Other Cortes loggers affirmed the need for wise management and sustainable forestry practices. A pervasive concern for family values was present: How to assure that our children have a safe and secure environment, not only to grow up in, but perhaps to live in as adults as well. Needless to say, it was a very diverse, and often polarized, group and everyone expressed relief at the ease with which the council process allowed us to truly listen to, and understand, one another. It was pretty much unanimous that something further could be done in the same spirit of co-operation. Which brings me to the point of my letter.
Much of the conflict that has arisen around your activities on Twin Islands is the result of its sudden impact on Cortes and a lack of information within the community regarding your plans for the future of the island. Understandably, when confronted by vocal and demonstrative protesters, you are reluctant to venture forth and attempt to be heard. I would feel the same in such a situation. However, because I am aware that you were at one point willing to meet with at least a few representatives of Cortes Island, I am approaching you now, asking you to consider coming to Cortes yourself, or to send a qualified representative on your behalf, to explain in detail what you plan to do on Twin. Such an information meeting could go a long way toward dispelling the animosity and misinformation currently festering here on the island.
I would be willing to do whatever I can to facilitate organize such a meeting and would do my very best to conduct it in the same spirit of openness and respect as was the Logging of Twin Islands Council conducted.
If an open community meeting is not possible, perhaps we could work together to create an alternative. Please let me know what you think.
Yours truly,
Dwayne Edward Rourke
ph/fax (250) 935-6336
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