Dale Boyd
Aberdeen Publishing
A historic memorandum of understanding signed at the Nk’Mip Desert Cultural Centre Tuesday between the provincial and federal governments and the Okanagan Nation is the first official step towards a national park reserve in the South Okanagan.
Osoyoos Indian Band Chief Clarence Louie joined Minister of Environment and Climate Change Catherine McKenna, B.C. Minister of Environment George Heyman and Chief Keith Crow of the Lower Similkameen Indian Band in signing the document which will provide a “framework of collaboration amongst the parties to move forward in establishing a national park reserve in the South Okanagan-Similkameen.”
The MOU outlines the working boundary of the proposed park, which includes 273 square kilometres, and outlines overarching steps moving forward, confirms there will be no expropriation of private land outside of a willing-seller, willing-buyer basis and includes interim protection of provincial lands until a national park reserve is established.
However, there is still a lot to work out at the negotiating table before a national park becomes a reality.
Minister of Environment and Climate Change Catherine McKenna said an establishment agreement for the proposed park could come forward in one or two years.
“I think we’ve seen how quickly we’ve been able to move when you have partners working together,” McKenna said. “I’m optimistic we will be able to move quickly. Obviously making sure that we’re working with our First Nation partners and the concerns and opportunities that we have.”
The document marks the first time First Nations are full partners in negotiating a final legal agreement outside of the territories, and is the first federal agreement to feature the syilx language.
“Co-operative management, that’s a new term for me. What we are embarking on is new ground,” the OIB Chief said.
There are a lot of details to work out moving forward between the federal government, the province and the Okanagan Nation Alliance including Indigenous hunting rights and cattle ranching in the proposed boundary, Louie said. He also mentioned protection for areas like Spotted Lake as a benefit to establishing the park reserve.
“When I look at that area over there on the other side of the valley, all of those provincial parks had no involvement from our people, none, zero. So is this better? Well of course it’s better. Will it be a perfect arrangement? Probably not. I always want to do things better and I see this a better process than the way things have been done in the past,” Louie said.
McKenna said the agreement is “an example for the world,” on working with Indigenous communities.
“We need to be working with Indigenous peoples if we’re going to tackle some of the biggest challenges we face whether it’s climate change or biodiversity loss,” McKenna said.
Two people wearing “No National Park” shirts attended the announcement Tuesday morning, one man interrupting South Okanagan MP Richard Cannings while he spoke, stating the government has not listened to “any concerns from many people.”
“I’m happy that in this memorandum there is language that talks about an ongoing local advisory committee that will listen to people,” Cannings said before the man interrupted again. “As we hear, not everyone wants this to happen, but I think it’s important that it does happen.”
“I’m not sure how they do it off-reserve, but on reserve that’s disrespectful,” Chief Louie responded to the protester.
