Three provincial parks will be renamed to reflect their historic and cultural significance as part of reconciliation efforts with Indigenous peoples, if proposed legislative amendments introduced are passed.

The bill amends the Protected Areas of British Columbia Act and the Parks and Protected Areas Statutes Amendment Act, 2003.The bill proposes to add more than 1,600 hectares of land to 10 parks and one conservancy, as well as improve boundary descriptions and make administrative changes.

“These amendments allow our government to take an important step forward towards our ongoing reconciliation efforts with Indigenous peoples throughout British Columbia, which includes honouring the commitments we made under the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples,” said George Heyman, Minister of Environment and Climate Change Strategy. “The renaming of these parks to traditional Indigenous names, as rooted in history, reflect the significant heritage values recognized by all British Columbians and beyond.”

To reflect ancestral connections and support reconciliation efforts, three parks are proposed to be renamed with Indigenous titles:

• Brooks Peninsula Park (a.k.a. Mquqwin Park) on Vancouver Island will be renamed to Mquqwin/Brooks Peninsula Park, which was originally intended when the park name was changed in 2009 (First Nations name appearing before the original park name). The word Mquqwin means “The Queen” in the Nuu-Chah-Nulth language;
• Boya Lake Park near the northwestern B.C. border will be renamed Tā Ch’ilā Park (a.k.a. Boya Lake Park), meaning “holes in a blanket,” at the request of the Kaska Dena First Nation; and
• Roderick Haig-Brown Park in the Shuswap will be renamed to the traditional Secwepemc name Tsútswecw Park, which translates to “many rivers,” at the request of the Little Shuswap Indian Band.

The amendments also include several additions to existing parks and a conservancy, the largest being on Haida Gwaii, where more than 1,200 hectares are proposed to be added to Duu Guusd Conservancy. The K’aas Gandlaay area contributes to an almost contiguous band of protected areas along the west coast of Haida Gwaii, and protects archeological sites, old growth cedar stands and important Haida cultural and spiritual values.

In the Tumbler Ridge area, 268 hectares are recommended to be added to Monkman Park to protect Slate Falls, a significant waterfall and geographical feature.

Proposed additions to three parks — Cowichan River, Juan de Fuca and Cape Scott parks — on Vancouver Island are the result of private land acquisitions.

Proposed additions also include six hectares of foreshore to Otter Lake Park near Princeton; 3.43 hectares to Syringa Park near Castlegar; 17 hectares to Monashee Park north of Vernon and southwest of Revelstoke; 85 hectares to Tā Ch’ilā Park (a.k.a. Boya Lake Park) in the northwestern part of the province; 3.26 hectares to E. C. Manning Park near Princeton; and 4.265 hectares to Kleanza Creek Park near Terrace.

The amendments also make several improvements to boundary descriptions and make administrative corrections.

Learn More:

For the correct presentation of the Indigenous spelling for Mquqwin Park (pronounced “Mook-Queen”), please see the BC Parks website: http://www.env.gov.bc.ca/bcparks/explore/parkpgs/brooks_peninsula/