The Hutda Lake Wellness Centre Society may need a new name and new location for a proposed women's addiction treatment centre in northern B.C.
The society formed with the intention of creating a 40-bed addictions treatment centre at the former Hutda Lake Correctional Camp 30 kilometres from Prince George on Shesta Lake Road.
However, according to a Ministry of Aboriginal Relations and Reconciliation spokesperson, the property was acquired by the provincial government for treaty negotiations with the Lheidli T'enneh First
Nation.
Currently the province isn't considering any options that would release the property from those
negotiations.
Until the Lheidli T'enneh
conclude treaty negotiations with the province, the camp cannot be developed for other uses, the spokesperson said.
If the provincial government and Lheidli T'enneh signed a pre-treaty agreement for the land to be transferred to the First Nation, or to be removed from treaty discussions entirely, the land could be made available for development, the spokesperson said. However, there is no discussion of either option currently.
Lheidli T'enneh Chief Dominic Frederick could not be reached for comment.
In 2010 members of the First Nation agreed to hold a second ratification vote on a proposed treaty agreement from 2007. The treaty rejected in 2007 by the Lheidli T'enneh included self-government,4,275 hectares of treaty land, $27 million in cash, revenue-sharing and fishing rights.
Hutda Lake Wellness Centre Society chairperson Marianne Sorensen said society board members are still hopeful the former correctional camp will become available.
"We're hopeful that the Hutda Lake property can be used for the purpose of the program," Sorensen said. "[But] really what we're looking at is keeping our eyes open for potential sites. If one does come available and is suitable, we'll go for it. The objective is to get a women's wellness centre going for the North, and B.C., it's not about where."
Sorensen said the society is finalizing its service model plan and expects to release a report to community stakeholders in less than a month.
On May 20 the society held a community open house to gather input on the proposal. The report, which will included a detailed service plan, was heavily influenced by the public's input, Sorensen said.
"That [report] has taken us longer than we wanted," she said. "But we want the community to have a role in this project."
The former correction camp was shut down in 2002, but is being maintained. The site includes cabins, a main building, gym and
access to recreation.
