Members of the Líl̓wat Nation rallied on a road leading to Joffre Lakes Park Friday, protesting what the nation says is too short a scheduled closure for Indigenous cultural practices.
On Thursday, the Líl̓wat and N’Quatqua nations said the planned closure from Sept. 2 to Oct. 3 is a “continuation of colonial decision-making” that does not respect Indigenous authority over their traditional lands.
It will be the third and final such closure of the park this year.
On Friday, community members took to a section of Highway 99, temporarily blocking road access to the Mount Currie and Pemberton area.
In a post to social media, the Nation invited people to join the protest starting at 10 a.m., saying the province’s decision disregards the two nations’ ability to reconnect during its annual Reconnection Period.
“We are deeply disappointed,” said the post.
View this post on Instagram A post shared by Líl̓wat Nation (@lilwatnation)
A post shared by Líl̓wat Nation (@lilwatnation)
Líl̓wat Nation Chief Dean Nelson spoke to 1130 NewsRadio Thursday, saying the park lands have been overpopulated and overused for years. He says an assessment would show increased public traffic in the park, marking a need for longer rehabilitation and longer reconnection.
Beyond that, Nelson says he can understand how those outside the nation would not understand its values, but the demand stands. The nation asked the B.C. government for the closure to begin Friday and continue through Oct. 23.
“And then the province’s proposed dates were Sept. 2 to Oct. 3. So they really diminished the amount of time. They just did this on their own, like without any communication or any inclusion,” said Nelson.
He says the nation is frustrated and feeling disrespected.
“It’s just the lack of communication, and it all has to do with the way the system is right now… we do have to exercise our own voices and our rights on the lands and anything pertaining to our lives here.”
Around noon, DriveBC reported that Highway 99 near Pemberton’s Main Street was temporarily closed Friday during the peaceful protest. It has since reopened, with demonstrators occupying the highway shoulders.
✅ OPEN #BCHwy99 – The road is cleared following a peaceful protest near Main Street. #PembertonBC #MtCurrie https://t.co/WVudqWvjqE
—With files from Michael Williams and The Canadian Press