B.C. First Nations close popular Joffre Lakes park for harvest ...

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First Nation says requests to discuss park with provincial officials ignored, so they are going it alone

Two B.C. First Nations say they jointly shut down a popular provincial park north of Whistler because they could not come to agreement with the province on allowing the First Nations exclusive use of the park periodically.

The First Nations say the Joffre Lakes provincial park, also known a Pipi7iyekw, will be shut down until Truth and Reconciliation Day on Sept. 30 to allow the Líl̓wat Nation and N’Quatqua First Nation — based north of Whistler — to harvest traditional foods such as berries and medicines, and carry out spiritual ceremonies.

The Líl̓wat Nation political chief, Dean Nelson, said Friday that there has been a long conversation with the province over their desire to have an “equal voice” on closures of the park when they want and when they need them.

However, recent requests to provincial parks officials to talk to the First Nations about their values and needs have not been answered at all, he said.

“We needed space to put our time in that place to harvest and have spiritual ceremony gatherings,” said Nelson. “This year, we’ve put in requests for equal use, and they haven’t answered them or even considered answering them. We’re just looking at the overall process. It’s so slow. We’re just looking for a voice in stating our values and our concerns.”

Nelson added that in addition to times of harvest and spiritual need, there may be other times the First Nations may decide the park needs to be closed, including when there is a heightened wildfire risk.

Nelson gave no indication that the First Nations would consider lifting the unilaterally imposed closure before Sept. 30, which coincides with their traditional harvesting season.

The move appears to have taken the B.C. provincial government by surprise.

The province posted a notice on the B.C. Parks website on Thursday that the park was closed. On Friday morning the environment ministry issued a statement that said B.C. Parks was recently made aware of unanticipated circumstances at Joffre Lakes Park and the park is currently not accessible to the public.

Later Friday, in a written statement, Environment Minister George Heyman said his ministry was actively working with the two First Nations to find a solution that will provide space and privacy for cultural activities while ensuring public access to the park in a responsible and sustainable manner.

In the meantime, the park will remain closed until at least Sep. 1, he said.

Heyman said the booking system for day use passes will not be active during this time. All those with existing backcountry reservations will be contacted, and full refunds will be issued automatically.

He said the province will continue to keep people updated.

“We recognize the impact that this has on people’s plans on short notice. We sincerely apologize for the disruption and appreciate people’s understanding,” said Heyman.

The park is a major attraction for locals and tourists because of its jagged peaks, icefields, cold-rushing streams and turquoise-blue lakes, and proximity to Highway 99.

To deal with overcrowding at the parks, the province implemented a mandatory free day-pass program in 2021. In 2019, there were 196,322 visitors to the park, a more than 200 per cent increase since 2010.

Nelson, the Líl̓wat chief, said the issue of the number of visitors is one that has been managed, as well as other issues, including road safety and parking. While there are continuing concerns around those issues, the closure is about having exclusive use to the park, he said.

In announcing the closure on Thursday, the two First Nations issued a statement that cited a 2021 park management strategy and plan undertaken by the Líl̓wat and N’Quatqua with the province. It supports increased stewardship by the two First Nations, which have overlapping traditional territories in the park.

The strategy noted that Joffre Lakes park and the larger Duffey corridor is known by Líl̓wat Nation and N’Quatqua as the “banquet place”, where minerals and plants can be gathered, berries can be harvested, animals such as mountain goat and deer hunted, mammals can be trapped, and fish can be caught. The Joffre Creek watershed, called Nsk’enú7 by the Líl̓wat Nation, was used for vision quests and has many legends and stories associated with it.

In the announcement, the Líl̓wat Nation said it asserts its title and sovereignty to its traditional territory, adding that Indigenous rights are protected in the constitution and recognized in the Supreme Court of Canada’s landmark Tsilhqot’in decision in 2014.

On Friday, the B.C. United party called the sudden closure of Joffre Lakes park deeply disappointing to British Columbians but predictable, following a failure of Premier David Eby and the NDP to engage appropriately with the Líl̓wat and N’Quatqua First Nations.

“Reconciliation is supposed to be a two-way street complete with transparency and accountability,” said Ellis Ross, the B.C. United MLA for Skeena, and former chief councillor of the Haisla Nation. “If negotiations and proper dialogue were taking place behind the scenes, Joffre Park would be open today, as it should be, for all to enjoy.”

On Facebook social media posts, some park users were supportive of the First Nations’ closure of the park, while others cited the inconvenience.

With files from Cheryl Chan.

ghoekstra@postmedia.com

twitter.com/gordon_hoekstra

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