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National Post
27-05-2025
- General
- National Post
Caroline Elliott: Closures of B.C. parks to non-Indigenous visitors a sign of things to come
A year ago in these pages, I criticized land acknowledgements for implying that non-Indigenous Canadians are 'uninvited guests' in their own country. Now, the B.C. government has embraced these labels. Article content Article content To the applause of her colleagues, NDP MLA Rohini Arora stood in the legislature earlier this month, encouraging non-Indigenous British Columbians to describe themselves as a 'settler,' 'colonizer' and 'uninvited guest' living on 'Indigenous land.' Article content Article content This divisive mindset is increasingly being put into action, with a number of parks in B.C. being temporarily closed to non-Indigenous visitors. Article content Article content The most contentious of these is the repeat closure of Joffre Lakes Provincial Park during peak season, with access first denied by the Líl̓wat Nation and the N'Quatqua First Nation in 2023 for 39 days. In 2024, access was restricted for 60 days. Last week, it was announced that the 2025 closures will last more than 100 days. Article content The B.C. government also recently announced a short-term restriction on non-Indigenous visitors to the iconic Botanical Beach park on Vancouver Island. If Joffre Lakes is any guide, we can expect longer closures in the future. Article content The government's endorsement of these closures sets a troubling precedent for other parks and public lands. As B.C.'s former deputy minister of energy and Aboriginal law expert Robin Junger pointed out, the Joffre Lakes closures were initiated on the basis of the park being within Líl̓wat and N'Quatqua traditional territory, where Aboriginal title has been asserted but not proven. Article content Article content While Indigenous rights are protected by the Constitution, this does not give Indigenous groups the right to act unilaterally without consideration of the public interest, especially in cases where Aboriginal title hasn't been legally established. Article content Article content If the position of Indigenous groups, and seemingly the B.C. government, is that the mere assertion of Aboriginal title confers the right to prohibit access to public spaces, then there is nothing to prevent similar closures not just of other parks, but of any public lands throughout the province. Article content The issue already extends far beyond parks. The B.C government was criticized in February for withholding the details of a significant deal with the shíshálh Nation on the Sunshine Coast until after last year's provincial election. It involves huge amounts of money, transfers of land and promises to negotiate Aboriginal title and 'exclusive decision-making' powers in the band's traditional territory.
National Post
22-05-2025
- Politics
- National Post
FIRST READING: Non-Indigenous visitors being turned away from B.C. public parks
Article content First Reading is a Canadian politics newsletter curated by the National Post's own Tristin Hopper. To get an early version sent directly to your inbox, sign up here. Article content Article content TOP STORY Article content In what critics say is a template of things to come, B.C. has begun closing public parks to non-Indigenous residents citing 'cultural concerns.' Article content This week, the B.C. government announced that Botanical Beach — a popular spot along the Juan de Fuca Marine Trail — would be closed for 24 hours over the May 24 weekend 'to provide time, space and privacy for members of the Pacheedaht First Nation to harvest marine resources and reconnect with an important part of their territory.' Article content Article content This follows on a series of similar closure of Joffre Lakes Provincial Park, one of the busiest recreational spots in the province. Article content Article content From April 25 until May 16, non-Indigenous usage of the park is banned, and 'more temporary closures are anticipated' reads an April 25 bulletin by B.C.'s Ministry of the Environment and Parks. Article content The closures are to 'provide time and space for members of the Líl̓wat Nation and N͛Quatqua to reconnect with the land and carry out cultural and spiritual practices,' it reads. Article content The first, in 2023, occurred when the nearby Líl̓wat and N'Quatqua First Nations unilaterally barred public access to the park for more than five weeks. Article content 'In this time of reconciliation, Lil'wat Nation and N'Quatqua First Nation are asserting our Title and Rights to our shared unceded territory to take this time to harvest and gather our resources within our territories,' read a statement telling the B.C. public they would be barred access to the park from Aug. 23 'until National Truth and Reconciliation Day' (Sept. 30). Article content Article content When the Joffre Lakes closure was given official government sanction in 2024, B.C. Environment Minister George Heyman notably stressed that the action would not be a template for future closures of parks to non-Indigenous users. Article content Article content 'There is no universal policy,' Heyman said at the time, adding that Joffre Lakes was only being closed because of a 'distinction-based approach.' Article content In a statement to National Post, the B.C. Ministry of Environment and Parks said 'these temporary closures represent a critical step forward on the path of reconciliation and an important building block for future conversations on shared stewardship, park management and access.' Article content In addition to the Botanical Beach and Joffre Lakes shutdowns, B.C. has also seen a series of federally run recreation areas closed to public usage, with authorities also citing cultural concerns.
Vancouver Sun
24-04-2025
- Vancouver Sun
Popular Joffre Lakes Park temporarily closed for Indigenous use, land management
Increasingly popular Joffre Lakes Park in the Pemberton area will be closed for three weeks starting Friday so members of the Líl̓wat Nation and N͛Quatqua can reconnect with the land and carry out cultural and spiritual practices. Article content Article content The Ministry of Environment says the temporary closure of the park, also known as Pipi7íyekw, is aimed at avoiding overuse of the park, which has become one of the busiest in the province. Article content Article content 'As more people go to the park, there is a need for enhanced visitor-use management, ensuring the park is not degraded by heavy use,' said the ministry in an announcement Thursday. Article content Article content Joffre Lakes will be closed from April 25 to May 16. Starting on Saturday, May 17, adults and those older than 12 will have to get a free day-use pass in order to visit. Article content The ministry started issuing day passes in 2021 to make sure there was enough parking and to offer visitors a less crowded experience. They can be reserved online starting from 7 a.m. two days before a planned visit. Due to elevation, visitors should be aware there might be snow in the park and parking lot in the first few weeks after opening. Article content Joffre Lakes/Pipi7íyekw is jointly managed by the Líl̓wat and N͛Quatqua Nations, says the ministry, 'with the primary goal of maintaining the natural environment, and so the Nations can continue their cultural practices on their territory.' Article content A working group of the First Nations and B.C. Parks was created in 2018 that develops and implements a park visitor use management strategy. Article content 'As in previous years, more temporary closures are anticipated this season,' said the ministry, out of respect for the Nations' need for space and privacy to practise cultural activities. Future closure dates will be announced as soon as they are available. Article content
