 |
|
|
 |
Fort Liard Area (Brian Ronaghan, Permit #99-890)
 6.
Louis Betthale of Fort Liard examines a prehistoric stone knife fragment
he found near the Liard airstrip. |
Paramount Resources Ltd. proposes to construct and operate the ·Liard Pipeline Projectº in the Liard Valley, located approximately 25 km south of the community of Fort Liard. This project consists of a series of gas flowlines (total 15 km) from eight well sites situated on a high, forested ridge |
and a 24-km long pipeline to the Maxhamish gas plant in British Columbia.. Paramount also plans to build an access road from Fort Liard to the well sites that includes a bridge over the Pettitot River. Brian Ronaghan of Golder Associates, Calgary and Louie Betthale of Fort Liard examined areas proposed development areas for sites of archaeological and cultural interest. Mr. Betthale is an elder in the Fort Liard community and his family traps the area that will be affected by the southern portion of the pipeline.
One previously recorded archaeological site (JbRu- 4) in the hamlet of Fort Liard was revisited and assessed in relation to the proposed bridge and road. Two new prehistoric sites and three sites relating to traditional hunting and recreational use of the area by members of the Fort Liard community were recorded. JbRu-4 is one of a series of locations recorded in Fort Liard that confirm the area has been a traditional settlement area for thousands of years. This site has been heavily disturbed by road and airstrip construction and is of limited scientific value. The first new site is a disturbed campsite on the shores of a small lake and will be avoided by the pipeline proposed for the area. The second new site consists of a few stone artifacts that probably represent a short stop during travel along one of the small creeks in the area.
The traditional use sites consist of: a small tent-like brush structure relating to an winter overnight stop while working a trapline; two platform caches for smoked meat probably used recently by the Bertrand family of Fort Liard (Louie Betthale, personal communication); and a brush covered tipi along the shores of a small lake probably used by local youths for weekend camping. The pipeline has been rerouted to avoid the last two of these sites. These sites provide physical evidence that the area west of the Petitiot River is still used by members of the Fort Liard community for traditional hunting, trapping and general recreation.
