The Skwlāx Nation in the north Shuswap is warning outsiders about treading on to its territory to pick mushrooms.

“We have seen instances of these pickers going onto band land on a Forest Service Road near Scotch Creek and near Lee Creek,” said Kukpi7 James Tomma in a release.  “In one case these outside pickers set up a camp and were selling the product to a commercial vendor.”

This follows last year’s devastating Bush Creek East wildfire, which destroyed wide swaths of Skwlāx territory, including dozens of homes.

Forested areas burned by wildfires often produce an abundance of wild mushrooms the following spring as part of the rejuvenation process on the forest floor.

The Band is warning that outside pickers on their land “will not be tolerated.”

“Any mushrooms growing on Band land belong to the members. They have the first right to pick them as it is one of their traditional food sources,” said Tomma.  “We aren’t accepting outside pickers who want to set up a camp—especially when they start fires.  As the land recovers from the 2023 Bush Creek East wildfire, this is a dangerous action.”

Tomma says officials with the SteS Territorial Stewardship department and Band security have had conversations with unauthorized pickers in the last few weeks.

“Any non-band members caught harvesting the mushrooms, or setting up these camps will be dealt with in a harsher manner,” said Tomma.

“This could very well include prosecution for trespassing,” warned Tomma.