It's also, perhaps, a sign of frustration that the leases are ending.

As the dreaded date draws near, Reese said, maintenance is becoming more of an issue on "the island." (The term ‘island' regularly crops up in conversations with cabin owners - mostly because you need a boat to get there, but also because a creek runs around the entire area.)

Gord Williams had planned to retire on ‘the island.' From his dockside property he has a clear view of his business, Ayla Canoe Rentals, at Grant Narrows Regional Park. He has now bought a townhouse in Maple Ridge, although as a businessman he can't fathom the Katzies' reasons for turning down guaranteed money from the leases.

"I love the peace and serenity, the beauty of the place," said Williams, who has lived there 23 years. "For me it was also a healing place."

The solitude helped Williams kick alcohol, drugs and smoking. "You want to feel better, go hug a tree."

There are many stories here. Stories of neighbourliness, like when an elderly woman needs some wood cut and it somehow just gets done. Stories of accomplishment and frustration, like putting the last nail on a cabin one day and starting to tear it down the next. Among the recreational owners, Nygaard and Robertson feel particularly cheated because they just signed their lease in May 2000.

Although that was after the Katzie voted to end the leases, Nygaard said she was assured by an official from Indian and Northern Affairs the leases would be renewed.

Department spokesperson Bernice Timmer said no such agreement was reached with Nygaard. The government respects the decision of the Katzie to end the leases and will abide by it, Timmer said.

For his part, Chief James said the official "was in no position to make any promises."

The Katzie surrendered the site to Indian Affairs for 99 years for lease purposes, but James said the band will likely hold a vote to resume control of its land.

The band may well decide to issue new leases there in the future, James said. He also acknowledged that the cabin owners association has taken good care of the land in the last few years. But the decision to end the current leases will stand and the buildings must be removed by the end of the year.

The band members have spoken, James said. "We (the council) can't reverse that decision if we wanted to. We don't have that authority."

No sympathy has been expressed for the leaseholders, he added. "I don't know where they got the impression they would be there forever. It's never forever if there's a lease."