Joffre Lakes closure remains in place as First Nations, province continue discussions

Two First Nations are temporarily shutting down access to Joffre Lakes Park. Kier Junos reports the first nations say they’re asserting their rights to unceded territory to gather resources.

By Hana Mae Nassar and Pippa Norman

Posted September 8, 2023 11:58 am.

The B.C. government says Joffre Lakes Provincial Park will remain closed until at least Friday, Sept. 15, in consultation with the Lil’wat and N’Quatqua First Nations.

According to Minister of Environment and Climate Change Strategy George Heyman, the province has been in discussions with the First Nations over the past two weeks about access to the park.

He says the additional week of closure “will allow for productive discussions to continue toward a collaborative resolution that supports reconciliation.”

“Our government’s goal is to find an agreement that will give space and privacy for cultural activities while ensuring public access to the park in a responsible and sustainable manner,” he said in a statement Friday, Sept. 8.

“We thank the Nations for continuing these discussions with us. We acknowledge that this decision has an impact on people’s plans and are working hard to provide certainty for everyone through a mutually acceptable agreement.”

The Lil’wat Nation and N’Quatqua First Nation announced on Aug. 23 that they were jointly closing the park to the public for a harvest celebration.

The month-long closure of the park, located east of Pemberton, was happening in a time of reconciliation to assert their Title and Rights to their unceded territory, the Nations said at the time.

“Joffre Lakes Park is located within the shared, overlapping unceded traditional territory of the Lil’wat Nation and N’Quatqua First Nation,” the Nations said in their statement. “These lands have been used and occupied by the Lil’wat and N’Quatqua since time immemorial.”

The park opened for a three-day period over the Labour Day long weekend, as the Nations and province continued discussions to chart out a plan to provide space and privacy for the cultural activities of the Lil’wat and N’Quatqua going forward.

Previously, the Lil’wat and N’Quatqua Nations said the closure would last until National Truth and Reconciliation Day on Sept. 30.

The closure means day passes and backcountry camping access are cancelled until the park reopens.