The recent report by the Okanagan Nation Alliance promoting the establishment of a national park in the South Okanagan is swaying some people, but not the Grassland Park Review Coalition.
“It’s a publicly funded charade,” said spokesman Greg Norton. “Parks Canada has consistently ignored the real issues.”
He pointed out that Parks Canada used $400,000 of taxpayers’ money to fund the Syilx report, which found that a national park in the South Okanagan-Similkameen is feasible.
Norton isn’t surprised, saying people would be naïve to think the report would yield anything but a favourable response.
However, the South Okanagan-Similkameen National Park Network supports the First Nations and their call for government to continue the negotiation process.
Network coordinator Doreen Olson said the First Nations report is the final piece of information that is required to establish the national park reserve.
“In 2010, an eight-year study of the area recommended the urgent need to negotiate the establishment of a national park reserve. And now with the First Nations support it is clear that local citizens, governments, business, and tourism all want this park to move forward.”
Olson stated the South Okanagan is one of the most endangered ecosystems in Canada, adding that one third of BC’s endangered species live here.
“The national park reserve will protect these critical grasslands from urban encroachment and development,” Olson noted.
But last year the BC Ministry of Environment said it would not support the establishment of a park at that time because the public was too divided on the issue.
Norton said the national park proposal has fractured local communities, with Parks Canada pitting people against each other. “They don’t want to listen to anyone but the people who support the park.”
Norton said many voices have not been heard in the process, noting if Parks Canada truly embraced the issues, it would realize this is not the place to establish a park.
The draft park concept outlines the areas of Vaseux Lake, the South Okanagan grasslands, and Mt. Kobau.
The coalition has identified several issues of concern. For example, it believes a national park would increase the threat of wildfire because of the curtailment of cattle grazing.
“Cattle are an historic fuel management system. In 2003 during the three major fires in the Okanagan, all those fires started in areas that had not been grazed by cattle,” Norton said. He added that a catastrophic wildfire would threaten many homes and the smoke would contaminate vineyards.
Another concern is the park’s negative impact on ranching lifestyles, with ranchers alienated from their land. However, Parks Canada previously stated it would offer ranchers fair market value and would not force them to sell.
Norton said a national park would disrupt family livelihoods by restricting various activities, such as ATV use and hunting. Curtailing hunting in the South Okanagan-Similkameen would create additional deer pressure on local horticulture and forage crops, Norton pointed out.
But ecologist Dr. George Scotter said Parks Canada is required by federal law to restore the habitat of endangered species (badgers, for example) in a national park.
“Several of the ranches are for sale, and some of the land is already subdivided, so we are very worried that this habitat could be lost forever without some sort of protection to prevent fragmentation, leaving healthy intact ecosystems,” Scotter said.
In the park establishment phase, legal agreements are developed to help ensure that affected ranchers and businesses such as HNZ Topflight, formerly known as Canadian Helicopters, are provided business security.
“Certainty is critically important to business,” said Mike Meheriuk of the Okanagan Similkameen Parks Society. “They are our neighbours and colleagues and we want to see their interests respected and with their success will come increased investment in our communities.”
Olson said a national park reserve is good for tourism by attracting a different customer and ensuring a longer tourist season. In addition, the park will provide many new permanent jobs and numerous indirect jobs in local communities through increased business at local hotels, campsites, restaurants and wineries, Olson said.
Grand Chief Stewart Phillip, chair of the Okanagan Nation Alliance, said their report establishes what is important to the Syilx people and how the future of the land should be protected.
“There is now sufficient confidence to carry forward to the next phase of discussion of a potential park.”
However, the alliance says the current park plan is insufficient in size to promote the Syilx vision for protection of their culture (and inherent rights) and the ecological integrity of the South Okanagan.
Phillip said Okanagan chiefs are anticipating discussing the findings of their report with the BC government.
Osoyoos Indian Band Chief Clarence Louie said the report demonstrates support in principle, but he agreed that many issues remain to be addressed.
“As for the overall support of the park, like most issues there will always be those for and those against – even among the Okanagan People there will be those for and those against – can’t please everyone on any issue.” Louie said he doubts their report will turn the tide in the park’s favour.