Trespassers make life hard

I live on the east side of the island on the river at Okanagan Falls. The falls that existed were on the west side of the island with a channel of rapids on the east side. European and Aboriginal people fished in the pools south of the island and the falls. The dam north of the island has created a place for Aboriginals only to fish.

We have owned the riverfront property south of the dam for 72 years. We have spent a considerable amount of money to discern and reconfirm legally and in a non-threatening manner the actual boundary. The decision will come from the Surveyor-General’s office.

At the beginning of this legislated fishing fiasco, we tried to be good neighbours to the people fishing. The result : trespass, abusive language, garbage, large three-prong barbed fish hooks for snagging, feces, diapers, cigarette butts, drug paraphernalia, cans, bottles, dead fish and squatters lighting campfires on our property. My daughter was assaulted.

We have asked for support from government and non-government agencies. Multiple calls to the RCMP result in a file number. A constable responded when the assault was reported. The only help was from the Okanagan Falls Fire Department to the threat of fire on the dry, grassy hillside.

We seem to be a nuisance to the RCMP and the long list of institutions supposedly upholding the rights of all Canadian citizens. I believe that this biased and manipulative interpretation of Canada’s legal and political systems fosters apartheid. E. J. Walker, Okanagan Falls