First Nations say they’re ‘shutting down’ public access to Joffre Lakes to harvest

Two B.C. First Nations say they are “shutting down” public access to one of the province’s most popular parks until the end of September.

In a statement dated Wednesday, the Líl̓wat and N’Quatqua First Nations say the closure is in support of a harvest celebration in the area they call Pipi7iyekw and widely known as Joffre Lakes Park.

“(We) are asserting our Title and Rights to our shared unceded territory to take this time to harvest and gather our resources within our territories,” the statement reads. “We are asking you to help in honouring us by providing us with sufficient time and space that we require to conduct our Nt’akmen (our ways) within our lands.”

1:08 BC Parks warn hikers about crowds at Joffre Lakes

The statement points to visitor use management strategy and action plans the nations jointly undertook with the province in in recent years, which include supporting Indigenous use of the area for traditional activities including food harvesting and ensuring opportunities for the nations ceremonial activities to take place in the park.

The statement also cites Indigenous rights and title enshrined in the constitution and recognized through the Supreme Court of Canada’s Tsilhqot’in decision.

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“These lands have been used and occupied by the Líl̓wat and N’Quatqua since time immemorial,” the statement reads. “In keeping with the above stated, Líl̓wat and N’Quatqua First Nation are jointly shutting down the public access to Pipi7iyekw – Joffre Lakes Park until National Truth and Reconciliation Day.”

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The B.C. Ministry of Environment and Climate Change Strategy provided a statement regarding the situation, Thursday evening.

“People with day passes will not be able to access the park on Friday, August 25 and Saturday, August 26 at this time,” a spokesperson said in an email.

“Everyone who had a day pass for those days has been contacted directly to advise them that the park is not accessible on those days.”

The ministry also will not be opening bookings for day passes for Sunday, August 27.

“We are also having to cancel all backcountry camping reservations for Friday, August 25, Saturday, August 26 and Sunday, August 27. People will be fully refunded automatically. If people’s trip extends beyond these three days, please call the call centre for assistance in modifying your reservation: 1-800-689-9025. We are currently in the process of contacting everyone who had camping reservations on those dates.”

The ministry said if the situation changes and access to the park re-opens, it will contact people who had day passes and backcountry passes directly.

Driven in part by its Instagram views, the Joffre Lakes have become one of the South Coast’s most popular park destinations.

In an effort to manage the impact of a surge in visitors and as a part of the Visitor Use Management Strategy, the province implemented a mandatory free day pass program in 2021.

That same year, the province reported the park had recorded more than 196,000 visitors in 2019, an increase of 222 per cent since 2010.