Band Granted Permission To Pick Mushrooms In Park
Thursday, June 14, 2007 at 12:59
Members of the Lac La Ronge Indian Band are taking advantage of a one-time special exemption to pick wild mushrooms in Lac La Ronge Provincial Park.
Harvesters in the Stanley Mission area have been at it for almost a week — even though Saskatchewan Environment normally prohibits picking mushrooms for commercial purposes.
Chief Tammy Cook-Searson says her band asked Environment Minister John Nilson for the exemption because of a very large Morel mushroom harvest caused by last year’s forest fires.
Cook-Searson notes the area in question is in the band’s traditional territory.
Saskatchewan Environment spokesman Ken Lozinski says that fact played a role in the department’s decision.
Lozinski also says with so many mushrooms, and the fact the harvesters don’t plan to use ATVs, the department is not worried about adverse effects on the park.
The harvest is expected to last another three weeks.