Listen to this article
Estimated 4 minutes
The audio version of this article is generated by AI-based technology. Mispronunciations can occur. We are working with our partners to continually review and improve the results.
A First Nation in British Columbia says more than half of the closure dates it has set to reconnect with the land at a popular park have been ignored by the province.
Pipi7íyekw/Joffre Lakes Park is located on the unceded territories of Líl̓wat Nation and N’Quatqua First Nation.
The park was closed to the public for a total of 68 days in 2025 and 60 days in 2024 for reconnection periods, which the Lil’wat Nation says let members exercise traditional activities and allows the park to rest.
This year, the province announced the park will be closed to recreational visitors for 31 days between June 20 and 27, and from Sept. 8 to 30.
The Líl̓wat Nation announced its closure dates of the park for a total 75 days from April 19 to May 11, June 20 to June 27, and Aug. 23 to Oct. 5.
Dean Nelson, political chief of Líl̓wat Nation, said the nation is calling on the province to immediately recognize and implement its dates.
“These dates were not requests,” Nelson said.
“They are the reconnection periods that Líl̓wat requires so our people can harvest, hold ceremony, teach our children on the land, and carry out our stewardship responsibilities in Pipi7íyekw.”
WATCH | Peaceful ceremony blocks access to Joffre Lakes Provincial Park:
Peaceful ceremony blocks access to Joffre Lakes Provincial Park
A peaceful ceremony was held by the Lil’wat and N’Quatqua First Nation near Joffre Lakes Provincial Park after the province announced the closure dates. Alanna Kelly reports from Mount Currie on what took place and why the First Nations want the closure to be longer.
Pipi7íyekw/Joffre Lakes Park is one of the most popular parks in the province, with 196,322 visitors in 2019, a 222 per cent increase since 2010.
Líl̓wat Nation said in a statement that heavy recreational use, particularly from late spring to early fall, harms the land and interferes with the nation’s ability to exercise its rights and responsibilities.
“Reconciliation must be matched by action,” Nelson said.
On a busy day, Highway 99 is host to a long line of vehicles outside Joffre Lakes Provincial Park in BC. (Submitted by Steve Jones)
Nelson said the move is a “step that has further undermined an already fractured relationship” and the shorter closure dates were announced without any engagement or discussion with the nation.
“If the province is serious about building a relationship based on mutual respect, it must start by respecting our reconnection periods,” Nelson said.
The nation has requested a response from the province by June 2.
‘Disappointing and disheartening’
Líl̓wat Nation and N’Quatqua First Nation were both concerned with last year’s closure dates, saying it was only a fraction of the days they had asked for.
In response, a ceremony was held on Highway 99 near Pemberton in August 2025 blocking the entrance to the park.
Xzúmalus Roxanne Joe told CBC News last year that there is often garbage found on the side of the trail.
“The trail itself is so packed down it is almost like cement,” Joe said.
In an email, B.C.’s Ministry of Environment and Parks confirmed that requested spring closure dates, which had occurred in the previous two years, would not happen this year.
Balancing interests
Minister of Environment and Parks Tamara Davidson said on May 19 in the B.C. Legislature that the key is to find the right balance.
“We had collaborated an agreement that balanced the different interests that we’re looking at providing public access to the parks by the public and then also providing time for the land to regenerate, and also for the two nations to have time to do cultural activities,” said Davidson.
Joffre Lakes Provincial Park was established in 1988. Since then, it has become one of the most popular parks in B.C. (Getty Images)
Jeremy Valeriote, Green MLA for West Vancouver-Sea to Sky, said there is a “great amount” of confusion around the dates the ministry has published compared to the dates posted on signs in the community.
“It seems that the government is either blaming the nations or waving the problem away, instead of doing the actual work required to alleviate the confusion,” Valeriote said.