August 20, 2025
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Líl̓wat Nation and N’Quatqua Denounce Province of BC’s Unilateral Decision on Pipi7íyekw (Joffre Lakes Park) Closures
Líl̓wat and N’Quatqua Territories – August 20, 2025 – The Líl̓wat Nation and N’Quatqua strongly denounce the recent announcement from the Province of British Columbia’s Ministry of Environment and Parks regarding new closure dates for Pipi7íyekw (Joffre Lakes Park). The province’s-imposed dates are a fraction of the schedule advanced by our Nations and represent yet another unilateral decision that ignores our governance, our laws, and our rights.
Our position in this matter has not changed but we want to remain clear, this is not how the province will achieve reconciliation. This is not recognition of our Title and Rights. This is a continuation of colonial decision-making that disregards our authority and obligations to our lands. The province’s actions run directly counter to UNDRIP, which British Columbia has enshrined in law, and they openly contradict the Supreme Court of Canada’s rulings affirming Indigenous Title and Rights, as well as Canada’s constitutional commitments.
By minimizing and dismissing our clearly stated direction for Pipi7íyekw, the Province demonstrates that it does not respect our jurisdiction, our stewardship responsibilities, or our role as the rightful decision-makers in our unceded territories. This is a profound violation of our trust and an affront to the very principles of reconciliation the province claims to uphold.
Our Nations continue to face ongoing pressure to shorten our time and access to our own territories, while the province prioritizes recreational use by visitors. This is not an equal relationship. For us, this land is not about recreation, it is about food security and the wellness of our people. We need this time and space for our Nations to harvest, reconnect, and exercise our responsibilities as stewards of the land.
We are deeply saddened and disappointed by the Ministry of Environment’s announcement. It disregards the exclusive use period we have identified for Líl̓wat and N’Quatqua citizens: August 22 to October 23. These dates reflect the time required for our communities to reconnect with the land, conduct ceremonies, gather food and medicines, and allow Pipi7íyekw the rest it needs to heal. The province’s refusal to honour these dates undermines both reconciliation and the health of the land and people.
As stewards of Pipi7íyekw, our Nations are guided by our traditional laws to care for the land, protect it from overuse, and ensure it can sustain future generations. For decades, the province has permitted the overuse and degradation of Pipi7íyekw by allowing unsustainable levels of visitation. The land was never meant to endure this degree of exploitation. It requires periods of rest and regeneration. By cutting back the closure dates we determined, the province is directly undermining our efforts to give Pipi7íyekw the time it needs to heal.
Equally important is the need to assess the cumulative effects of this ongoing overuse. Without a meaningful pause, it is impossible to fully understand the long-term impacts on the land, water, wildlife, and spiritual balance of Pipi7íyekw. Our Nations have advanced an assessment framework rooted in the wellness of the mind, body, and spirit; an approach that respects the interconnectedness of people, culture, and the land. This work cannot be done under the constant pressure of overcrowding and relentless visitation. The province’s refusal to honour our closure period denies us the opportunity to carry out this critical responsibility.
Pipi7íyekw is not the property of the province. It lies within the unceded territories of the Líl̓wat Nation and N’Quatqua. Our responsibility since time immemorial has been to protect, steward, and govern this place for present and future generations. Any decisions about Pipi7íyekw must be made by and with us; not imposed over us. We remind the public and BC Parks that there has never been consultation on the creation of this park, and this legacy of exclusion continues today.
BC Parks should have been proud to take this opportunity to demonstrate real and meaningful reconciliation. Instead, they continue to hold onto paternalistic approaches that disregard Indigenous stewardship and decision-making. Our Nations have clearly identified and dedicated specific days that our communities need time and space within Pipi7íyekw, free from outside pressures and overuse. These are not requests for privilege, but the exercise of inherent rights and responsibilities to care for the land and ensure the wellness of our people. By ignoring these dedicated times, BC Parks undermines both reconciliation commitments and the ability of our Nations to fulfill our sacred duties to the land.
The province has shown, once again, that it is not acting in collaboration with our Nations, instead, it continues to make decisions in isolation, without consent, and without respect for our responsibilities as the rightful caretakers of these lands. This decision proves that the province does not take seriously its stated commitments to reconciliation, partnership, or environmental stewardship. We have lost trust in working with BC Parks, as their actions repeatedly demonstrate disregard for our Nations’ voices, rights, and stewardship obligations.
We demand that the Province of British Columbia immediately retract this unilateral announcement and engage with the Líl̓wat Nation and N’Quatqua in good faith. Reconciliation cannot and will not exist so long as governments continue to make paternalistic, colonial decisions about our lands without our consent.
Líl̓wat Nation Communications Team
Phone: 604-894-6115
Email: communications@lilwat.ca
About Líl̓wat Nation
Líl̓wat Nation is a progressive First Nation’s community located 7 km north of Pemberton, BC. With a membership of almost 2,300 people — approximately 1,495 of whom live in the community — the Líl̓wat Nation is the third largest First Nation in the province. The Nation is striving towards self-determination for, and by, the citizens of Líl̓wat by continuing to exert control over its Territory and resources. With economic development focused on land and resource management, Líl̓wat Nation is building the foundation for a sustainable community by exploring opportunities in retail, forestry, construction, agriculture, energy projects and tourism.
The Líl̓wat Nation’s government, headed by an elected chief, a culture chief and an 11-person council, is committed to transparency and employs best practices in all aspects of governance.
About N’Quatqua is a St’át’imc community located at the north end of Anderson Lake in British Columbia. As one of the distinct communities of the St’át’imc Nation, N’Quatqua maintains inherent Title and Rights to its territory and continues to uphold its stewardship responsibilities in accordance with traditional laws and values.
N’Quatqua is governed by its elected Chief and Council and works to advance the social, cultural, and economic well-being of its members while protecting the lands and waters for future generations. The Nation prioritizes the revitalization of St’át’imc language and culture, the strengthening of community wellness, and the development of sustainable opportunities that respect both people and the environment.
In all engagements with government, industry, and partners, N’Quatqua asserts its rights, jurisdiction, and responsibilities as stewards of its territory. The Nation is committed to building respectful relationships based on recognition, mutual accountability, and meaningful reconciliation.
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