A peaceful end to the Rainbow Family’s search for a B.C. gathering place is in sight.
Elected chiefs from Tla-o-qui-aht First Nation were deciding Tuesday evening whether to allow the World Rainbow Family to gather at Kennedy Lake’s Rainbow Beach — which First Nations know as Chu-is — and, by early evening, most chiefs had said they were in favour of allowing the counterculture group to camp in the Tla-o-qui-aht Tribal Park.
“My understanding is that these people are very peaceful and like to leave the land in a better condition and that is how we view the land and resources,” said Terry Dorward, a Tla-o-qui-aht councillor and tribal parks project manager.
About 400 people are likely to attend the month-long gathering. “There are about three beaches there,” Dorward said. “They could spread out fairly far in the woods as well.”
The World Rainbow Gathering at Raft Cove, near Cape Scott, broke up this weekend after B.C.’s Environment Ministry closed the provincial park because of fears over the effects of a large gathering on the delicate ecosystem.
Rainbow Family members met with Tofino Mayor Josie Osborne on Tuesday to ask about the Kennedy Lake site, although it is outside the town’s boundary. Osborne said she had three conditions — that they got permission from the Tla-o-qui-aht, public health and safety were addressed and there would be minimal impact on the environment.
