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Natives get say in managing B.C. parks
by Lindsay Kines and Miro Cernetig, Victoria T.C •
Wednesday May 17, 2006 at 03:20 PM
Deals are part of efforts to integrate treaty demands
Natives get say in managing B.C. parks Deals are part of efforts to integrate treaty demands
Lindsay Kines and Miro Cernetig, Victoria Times Colonist First Nations are gaining a role in the operation and development of B.C. parks through agreements with the provincial and federal governments. The 'Namgis First Nation signed an agreement with B.C. Tuesday to help manage parks and protected areas near Alert Bay and the Nimpkish Valley on northern Vancouver Island. The accord allows the 'Namgis to be involved in planning for six provincial and marine parks and four ecological reserves, including the orca whale sanctuary at Robson Bight. An agreement to be signed Saturday between Ottawa and the 6,000 members of the Hul'qumi'num First Nation sets up a committee in which native people will advise Parks Canada about best uses of the Gulf Islands National Park Reserve, 62 square kilometres of protected sea and land in the Strait of Georgia. The two pacts, part of a trend to try to weave First Nations' treaty demands into the management of Crown parks, will give natives a say over everything from how to write signs in the parks to the placement of trails and campgrounds. It also will give aboriginal people an opportunity to integrate their traditional demands for food harvests -- from digging beach clams to catching salmon to shooting deer -- within the tourist activities of the popular sites. The protected areas in the B.C. agreement occupy about eight per cent of the traditional territory of the 'Namgis, who live on Cormorant Island off Port McNeill. 'Namgis Chief Bill Cranmer said the deal marks an important step in the B.C. Treaty Commission process. "I think these types of agreements can be seen as building blocks as we move towards a treaty," Cranmer said. "It gives us the opportunity to plan together ... how we can best manage the parks and resources for the benefit of not only the 'Namgis, but all of the people that live around us." Environment Minister Barry Penner said this and similar deals reached with other First Nations across B.C. will lead to increased emphasis on aboriginal cultural or historic use of parks. "This government-to-government agreement between the province and the 'Namgis will allow us to work together to manage parks as effectively as possible," said Penner. Morales said the Hul'qumi'num agreement with the federal government will help educate the public about aboriginal history and increase cross-cultural sensitivity. "I think there was one situation [in the Gulf Islands] where toilets were put up over a burial site," he said. "I hope the general public will understand. You don't build your houses on top of burial grounds." But he also said the public need not fear a land grab is under way because B.C. First Nations, many of whom share competing claims over the Gulf Islands, have a history and tradition of sharing. "We've never had the view the land is for us to deal with exclusively. That's something we hope to continue."
www.canada.com/victoriatimescolonist/news/capital_van_isl/story.html?id=52d51...
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