Editor:

In response to Reg Norberg’s desire to know more about Friends of the Nemaiah Valley, I would suggest that anyone interested look at our web-site at www.fonv.ca.

There one can find brief biographies of each director, including myself, as well as a fund of information of what we stand for and what we do.

We would not expect Mr. Norberg or anyone else to accept our “philosophy” without examining it carefully.

We are simply an independent environmental organization that works closely with the Xeni Gwet’in First Nations Government.

We have no hidden agenda. Four of our nine board members are property owners in the Chilcotin.

 Some outspoken proponents of the mine might prefer to concentrate on the substance of our arguments rather than focus on myself or the make up of our organization.

Such tactics only highlight the weakness of their position in support of the mine.

While my personal background is irrelevant to the debate regarding Teztan Biny, it appears to be of  interest due to the nature of the many ad hominem remarks in your comments section.

My family has roots in the Cariboo and Chilcotin going back over a hundred years.

My grandfather, Sidney Williams, was the pioneer land surveyor who named Mt. Tatlow (Mt. Ts’il?os).

My grandmother was native. My aunts and father were born in Quesnel from 1898 to 1903.

I live in the Nemiah Valley for approximately one third to one half of each year where I guide researchers and work on various projects for FONV and sometimes for Xeni.

I have been coming to the Chilcotin since 1952. My grandfather was a friend of R.C. Cotton, the founder of this paper. I have been a farmer and log house builder.

Other FONV board members also have strong ties to the Chilcotin.

Hope that helps.

David Williams

President

Friends of the

Nemaiah Valley

Victoria

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