The effort to rebuild a popular recreational cabin in the Pemberton-area backcountry is on hold for this year and perhaps longer pending resolution of an issue surrounding the potential for First Nations archeological artifacts at the site.

The Pemberton Wildlife Association (PWA), which has been leading the effort to replace the aging Tenquille Lake Cabin, on Monday (Aug. 23) announced that the project has been “postponed indefinitely” after a local First Nation requested that an archeological study of the site be done.

“Organizers felt that the estimated cost of the study would have been an unwarranted expense and were forced to postpone the project,” PWA officials wrote in a statement that was emailed to The Question.

“Through the fall of 2010, work will continue to resole this issue. Construction of the cabin is now postponed until the summer of 2011.”

The original Tenquille Lake cabin, built in the 1940s, has been a popular summer recreational destination for outdoors lovers, but as The Question reported in July, the cabin has been showing its age. The PWA, Squamish-Lillooet Regional District and Pemberton Valley Utilities and Services Committee have contributed $5,000 each toward the estimated cost of $20,000 to build a new, modern cabin.

Over the past two months, the PWA has secured more funding, permits, materials, helicopter time and volunteer commitments for the project and had hoped to complete the project over four days this summer — two days for site preparation and two for construction.

“Organizers of the proposed project received tremendous support for the local community, local governments and the provincial government,” PWA officials wrote, adding that volunteers “were looking forward to a couple of weekends on the site to construct the cabin.”

In an interview, PWA secretary Allen McEwan said the Ministry of Tourism, Culture and the Arts is working to resolve the issue with the Lil’wat Nation (Mount Currie Band). McEwan said proponents have been told the estimated cost of the archeological study is $8,200, plus helicopter time to get consultants to and from the site.

Proponents weren’t willing to shoulder that cost but have been told that if a deal is ironed out, the ministry might pay for the study, McEwan said. If it can’t or won’t, the project may die, he said.

Support for the project has come from all segments of the community, including local First Nations people, MeEwan said. Fundraising for the project has reached $22,500, with a recent contribution of $6,000 from the Pemberton Snowmobile Club, and more has been pledged, he said.

“We wanted it to be a project to benefit everyone, to encourage youngsters to get out and enjoy the outdoors and not have to carry in all the gear to camp,” McEwan said.

“We’re hoping that we can rekindle the enthusiasm next year once this gets resolved, but this has dampened our spirits a bit, no question.”