Latest news with #JoffreLakes
Daily Mail
29-05-2025
- General
- Daily Mail
Concerns for Canada's park closures for indigenous reconnection
Canadian nature lovers are outraged by a government decision to shutter beauty spots to the public so they can be used exclusively by native groups to 'reconnect' with the land. Outdoors enthusiasts have slammed the government of British Columbia for closing Joffre Lakes Park and its turquoise waters for more than 100 days in peak season to regular taxpayers. The same goes for the 24-hour closure of Botanical Beach on Vancouver Island to nonindigenous people, so members of the Pacheedaht First Nation could have it to themselves. Critics have taken to social media to slam the closures as unfair and 'apartheid, Canadian-style,' with native groups getting special treatment as everyone else is sidelined. The province's Ministry of Environment and Parks has called the closures part of a 'path of reconciliation' with native people. The controversy follows a blockbuster Canadian election that was overshadowed by US President Donald Trump 's push to make Canada a '51st state' of America. The vast country has been convulsed by its own culture wars after a decade of former prime minister Justin Trudeau's ultra-liberal rule. Caroline Elliott (pictured), director of the Public Land Use Society, a campaign group, slammed the closure of Joffre Lakes as unfair in a recent post on X that's been viewed 172,000 times and generated hundred of comments. 'It's divisive, it sets a terrible precedent, and it's just plain wrong,' Elliott says in the video. 'What it isn't is complicated. BC's parks belong to all British Columbians.' Angry social media users commented on the video, saying the shuttering was 'discriminatory,' and amounted to 'identity politics,' 'racial segregation,' and even an 'apartheid, Canadian-style.' 'These are provincial parks, not tribal reserves,' posted one user. 'Everyone pays for them. Everyone maintains them. Everyone should be welcome.' Joffre Lakes park has been closed in peak season so that the Líl̓wat Nation and the N'Quatqua First Nation can have exclusive access to its turquoise lakes, streams, and forests annually since 2023. Each year, the closures have grown longer, leaving some worried that one of the province's busiest parks would be shuttered to nonindigenous residents permanently in the future. The closure lasted for only 39 days in 2023, but grew to 60 days in 2024 and more than 100 days this year, says Elliott. The ministry in a statement to the Daily Mail said it was 'important to give time and space for the land to rest, while ensuring the Nations can use this space as they always have. We have built a strong relationship with the Lil'wat and N'Quatqua to make sure the natural and cultural values of the park are protected,' said the statement. 'We continue to work with the Nations to ensure opportunities exist for people to access the park in a responsible and sustainable way.' Back in 2023, the closure was not initiated by the officials – native groups unilaterally decided to deny access to other residents so they could practice their hunting and fishing traditions there. A statement from the group at the time said they were 'asserting our Title and Rights to our shared unceded territory to take this time to harvest and gather our resources within our territories.' During last year's closure, Líl̓wat Nation Chief Dean Nelson said the park was sacred to his community. 'We are striving to reintroduce our community to an area where they have been marginalized,' Nelson told CBC. 'The time and space created by these closures will allow our youth, elders and all Líl̓wat citizens to practise their inherent rights while reconnecting with the land.' The day-long closure of Botanical Beach park on Vancouver Island and its beloved tidal pools on May 25 has also raised concerns. In a statement, the parks department said the area was once home to the Pacheedaht, but that the area's growing popularity made it 'challenging' for members of the group to access it. Elsewhere in British Columbia, federally run recreation areas have also been closed to the public, with authorities also citing cultural concerns. They include parts of the Gulf Islands National Park Reserve and Parts of Pacific Rim National Park Reserve. Elliot's campaign group says the closures set a worrying precedent. In the case of Joffre Lakes park, native groups have only asserted land rights, but they've not been established in court, she says. The hiking enthusiast said it was worrying that 'mere assertion of title confers the right to prohibit public access to public spaces. What would prevent more closures like this, not just in other parks, but in relation to any other public lands?' she added.
Daily Mail
29-05-2025
- General
- Daily Mail
Canada blocking millions from parks over 'apartheid' scheme for the indigenous to 'reconnect' with land
Canadian nature lovers are outraged by a government decision to shutter beauty spots to the public so they can be used exclusively by native groups to 'reconnect' with the land. Outdoors enthusiasts have slammed the government of British Columbia for closing Joffre Lakes Park and its turquoise waters for more than 100 days in peak season to regular taxpayers. The same goes for the 24-hour closure of Botanical Beach on Vancouver Island to nonindigenous people, so members of the Pacheedaht First Nation could have it to themselves. Critics have taken to social media to slam the closures as unfair and 'apartheid, Canadian-style,' with native groups getting special treatment as everyone else is sidelined. The province's Ministry of Environment and Parks has called the closures part of a 'path of reconciliation' with native people. The controversy follows a blockbuster Canadian election that was overshadowed by US President Donald Trump 's push to make Canada a '51st state' of America. The vast country has been convulsed by its own culture wars after a decade of former prime minister Justin Trudeau's ultra-liberal rule. Caroline Elliott, director of the Public Land Use Society, a campaign group, slammed the closure of Joffre Lakes as unfair in a recent post on X that's been viewed 172,000 times and generated hundred of comments. 'It's divisive, it sets a terrible precedent, and it's just plain wrong,' Elliott says in the video. 'What it isn't is complicated. BC's parks belong to all British Columbians.' Angry social media users commented on the video, saying the shuttering was 'discriminatory,' and amounted to 'identity politics,' 'racial segregation,' and even an 'apartheid, Canadian-style.' 'These are provincial parks, not tribal reserves,' posted one user. 'Everyone pays for them. Everyone maintains them. Everyone should be welcome.' Joffre Lakes park has been closed in peak season so that the Líl̓wat Nation and the N'Quatqua First Nation can have exclusive access to its turquoise lakes, streams, and forests annually since 2023. Each year, the closures have grown longer, leaving some worried that one of the province's busiest parks would be shuttered to nonindigenous residents permanently in the future. The closure lasted for only 39 days in 2023, but grew to 60 days in 2024 and more than 100 days this year, says Elliott. The ministry in a statement to the Daily Mail said it was 'important to give time and space for the land to rest, while ensuring the Nations can use this space as they always have.' 'We have built a strong relationship with the Lil'wat and N'Quatqua to make sure the natural and cultural values of the park are protected,' said the statement. 'We continue to work with the Nations to ensure opportunities exist for people to access the park in a responsible and sustainable way.' Back in 2023, the closure was not initiated by the officials – native groups unilaterally decided to deny access to other residents so they could practice their hunting and fishing traditions there. The park closures have set off a firestorm of complaints on social media A statement from the group at the time said they were 'asserting our Title and Rights to our shared unceded territory to take this time to harvest and gather our resources within our territories.' During last year's closure, Líl̓wat Nation Chief Dean Nelson said the park was sacred to his community. 'We are striving to reintroduce our community to an area where they have been marginalized,' Nelson told CBC. 'The time and space created by these closures will allow our youth, elders and all Líl̓wat citizens to practise their inherent rights while reconnecting with the land.' The day-long closure of Botanical Beach park on Vancouver Island and its beloved tidal pools on May 25 has also raised concerns. In a statement, the parks department said the area was once home to the Pacheedaht, but that the area's growing popularity made it 'challenging' for members of the group to access it. Elsewhere in British Columbia, federally run recreation areas have also been closed to the public, with authorities also citing cultural concerns. They include parts of the Gulf Islands National Park Reserve and Parts of Pacific Rim National Park Reserve. Elliot's campaign group says the closures set a worrying precedent. In the case of Joffre Lakes park, native groups have only asserted land rights, but they've not been established in court, she says. The hiking enthusiast said it was worrying that 'mere assertion of title confers the right to prohibit public access to public spaces.' 'What would prevent more closures like this, not just in other parks, but in relation to any other public lands?' she added.
CTV News
26-05-2025
- CTV News
Joffre Lakes Park facing temporary closures over the summer
B.C.'s Joffre Lakes Park is facing another two rounds of closures in June and August to allow for local First Nations to reconnect to their land and culture in private, according to the Lil'wat Nation. The park, also known as Pipi7íyekw, will be closed between June 13 and 27 and between August 22 and Oct. 23 to allow for spiritual and cultural activities such as hunting, fishing, harvesting medicines, a statement from the nation said. It comes after an initial closure that spanned the first three weeks of May. During which, Environment Minister Tamara Davidson was invited to the park to witness firsthand the benefits the break of visitors had on both the community and the land. According to the nation, Davidson and her team met with Lil'wat and N'Quatqua leadership at the park on May 16, where they hiked to the first lake and 'engaged in meaningful discussions about the future stewardship of the area.' 'Since 2023 Lil'wat and N'Quatqua Nations have established reconnection periods for Pipi7iyekw, during which the park is not open to the public, to allow time for their community members to practice Nt̓ákmen (meaning 'our way'),' the statement said. 'This means providing dedicated periods of time for their community members to reconnect to their land and culture, while also providing time for the land to rest from human impacts.' The nation said community members are getting to utilize areas where they were previously removed or denied access, and the reconnection is integral to the well-being of the two Nations' community members as they look for traditional methods to help cope with grief, addictions, suicide and mental health. A spokesperson from B.C.'s Ministry of Environment and Parks said no firm dates for future temporary closures of the park have yet been agreed upon. The spokesperson said, however, that 'all agree it is important for people to have continued, predictable access' to the park and it is also important 'to give time and space for the land to rest, while ensuring the nations can use this space as they always have.' 'Maintaining a healthy park and supporting First Nations cultural practices are two sides of the same coin,' the spokesperson said. 'We have built a strong relationship with the Lil'wat and N'Quatqua to make sure the natural and cultural values of the park are protected. We continue to work with the Nations to ensure opportunities exist for people to access the park in a responsible and sustainable way.' The ministry said it will notify the public once an agreed schedule is confirmed.
