Canadian province makes public parks available to Indigenous persons only

Several public parks in British Columbia have been temporarily closed to non-Indigenous residents due to “cultural concerns.”

The BC government recently closed Botanical Beach for 24 hours, citing the need to give members of the Pacheedaht First Nation “time, space and privacy” to “harvest marine resources and reconnect with an important part of their territory.”

The move follows a pattern of increasing park closures for cultural reasons within the province. In a bulletin issued April 25, BC’s Ministry of the Environment and Parks announced that Joffre Lakes Provincial Park, one of the province’s busiest outdoor destinations, would be closed to non-Indigenous visitors from April 25 through May 16. The closure was intended to “provide time and space for members of the Lilwat Nation and NQuatqua to reconnect with the land and carry out cultural and spiritual practices.” 

This marks the third consecutive year that Joffre Lakes has been subject to closures for non-Indigenous individuals. 

In a statement to National Post, the BC Ministry of Environment and Parks said that “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.”

“First Nations may bring forward requests at any point during the year and we will work together to explore options to address their interests in balance with ensuring continued conservation and recreational opportunities for everyone,” the ministry added.

Other federal recreation areas in the province have also been restricted. On April 15, Parks Canada announced the indefinite closure of part of Gulf Islands National Park Reserve, again citing cultural concerns. Cabbage Island has been placed under a “prohibited activity order,” and Parks Canada warned that violators could be prosecuted under the Canada National Parks Act. The agency stated that the order is “to protect the natural and cultural resources of the park.”