Clinton, B.C.: Llenllenéy'ten (High Bar First Nation) has issued an evacuation order for High Bar I.R 1, High Bar I.R 1A, and High Bar I.R 2, effective August 6, 2026 at 10:00 AM in response to the immediate danger the current wildfire situation poses to the land. 

 

The impacts of this wildfire season on the land and watershed are significant. What is at risk includes Llenllenéy'ten Tmícw itself, the ancestral homeland the Nation has stewarded since time immemorial. The reserve lands include the Nation's frontage on the Fraser River, salmon fishing grounds that have connected Llenllenéy'ten families across generations and remain one of the Nation's most direct ties to its traditional way of life. The order reflects an assessment of extreme summer conditions, difficult access, and the risk that unauthorized activity on the land, including off road vehicle use, could start new fires.

 

The Nation is in ongoing, active contact with the BC Wildfire Service. Llenllenéy'ten has a long record of working proactively and cooperatively with wildfire services and other First Nations on prevention and response. Llenllenéy'ten looks forward to further dialogue with the BC Wildfire Service on fire management decisions, including planned ignitions, carried out on Llenllenéy'ten Tmícw. The Nation knows these decisions are based on science, and wants to understand them better as a partner.

 

The land under this order carries deep cultural weight. Members currently cannot access the Fraser River for fishing, one of the Nation's most important ties to its culture and traditional way of life. This loss comes on top of other climate events that have affected Llenllenéy'ten Tmícw in recent years, including the Farwell Canyon landslide (2024), the Big Bar landslide (2019), and the Elephant Hill wildfire (2017), and it is being felt by members already carrying the weight of a difficult wildfire season.

 

Llenllenéy'ten continues to prioritize its government to government relationships, including its ongoing work with the Village of Clinton and the Thompson-Nicola Regional District. The Nation is committed to working alongside these partners, before, during, and after this season, on the shared responsibility of caring for this territory.

 

On August 5, 2026, Llenllenéy'ten met with the Honourable Ravi Parmar, Minister of Forests, along with the Village of Clinton and the Thompson-Nicola Regional District, to discuss the regional wildfire response and recovery planning.

Llenllenéy’ten (High Bar First Nation) is a proud member of the Secwépemc Nation whose  territory is located in the Fraser Canyon–Cariboo central interior region of British Columbia. Guided by traditional Secwepemc values of unity (knucwentwécw), family (kw’séltkten), and care for future generations (stsmémelt), Llenllenéy’ten is committed to supporting the wellbeing, governance, and cultural vitality of its members. We have lived on these lands since time immemorial, and we plan on being here for generations to come.

 

Media are asked to review the full backgrounder prior to publication to ensure accuracy in reporting on Llenllenéy'ten. Access it here. 

Contact:  Roxanne Kennedy, Communications Specialist

Email:  comms@hbfn.ca

Phone:  250-819-1099

 

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