The Lil'wat Nation is holding a peaceful protest this morning, and blocking the turnoff to Joffre Lakes after a dispute with the province over closure dates.
The protest is scheduled to take place between 10 a.m. and 12 p.m. on Aug. 22.
"Today we're taking the time to mend our hearts, and we call upon all our spiritual leaders to help," said the Lilwat's Lhpatq Maxine Bruce at the scene.
The Nation is reportedly blocking the intersection leading to Joffre, Birken and D'arcy, with a long lineup of cars waiting to pass. MP Patrick Weiler is also reportedly in attendance.
The peaceful protest comes after the Lil'wat and N’Quatqua Nations issued a sharp rebuke of the B.C. government’s decision to shorten the Nations’ previously announced fall closure dates for Pipi7íyekw/Joffre Lakes Provincial Park. The Nations called the move a violation of their rights and a setback for reconciliation.
In a statement, the Nations said the province’s newly announced dates—Sept. 2 to Oct. 3—ignore their authority and disregard the exclusive use period they identified from Aug. 22 to Oct. 23.
“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,” the statement read. “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 refusal to honour these dates undermines both reconciliation and the health of the land and people.”
The statement concluded with a demand that the province retract its announcement and return to discussions in good faith.
"We have lost trust in working with BC Parks, as their actions repeatedly demonstrate disregard for our Nations’ voices, rights, and stewardship obligations,” they wrote. “Reconciliation cannot and will not exist so long as governments continue to make paternalistic, colonial decisions about our lands without our consent.”
Check back with Pique for more, including photos from the scene, as this story develops...
-With files from Luke Faulks
