British Columbia’s Ministry of Environment and Parks announced April 24 the closure of Joffre Lakes Park so indigenous people can “reconnect with the land.”
The closures “provide time and space for members of the Líl̓wat Nation and N͛Quatqua to reconnect with the land and carry out cultural and spiritual practices,” according to the agency’s statement.
The Líl̓wat Nation and N͛Quatqua Nation released a statement May 16 regarding the park’s closure, stating that the “Reconnection Periods” will occur during peak season: April 25 – May 19, June 13 – 27 and Aug. 22 – Oct. 23.
The Reconnection Periods, “during which the park is not open to the public, to allow time for their community members to practice Nt̓ákmen (meaning ‘our way’),” have occurred since 2023. (RELATED: LOFTUS: Liberal Elites Fleeing To Canada Admit They’re Cowards Who Don’t Care About Their Country)
The park was closed for 39 days in 2023, 60 days in 2024, and so far over 100 days in 2025, according to National Post.
The Minister of Environment and Parks met with Líl̓wat and N’Quatqua leadership at Joffre Lakes Park on May 16 when “they hiked to the first lake and engaged in meaningful discussions about the future stewardship of the area, with a shared commitment to protecting and sustaining the land,” according to the First Nations‘ news release. The First Nations are “1 of 3 recognized Indigenous Peoples in Canada, along with Inuit and Métis,” according to the Government of Canada.
The Reconnection Periods are also meant to provide time “for the land to rest from human impacts.”
“The Nations would like to see equal prioritization of land use types to ensure that recreational uses are not given preference over cultural land uses,” the statement reads. “The high number of visitors annually brings with it other impacts, such as safety concerns with the number of vehicles parking along the highway.”
Líl̓wat Nation’s Political Chief Kúkwpi7 Skalúlmecw Dean Nelson explains why many officials feel the park should be closed to non-Indigenous people.
“These changes wouldn’t happen if we don’t assert our inherent rights,” he says in the statement. “It’s our responsibility as stewards to protect the land; it’s been overused for too long by too many people.”
Robin Junger, a partner with the law firm McMillian LP who has expertise in environmental and Indigenous law, said he “believes there is no basis in law for the unilateral closure of the park by the First Nations,” according to the Vancouver Sun.
“He noted that Aboriginal rights are protected by Canada’s Constitution, but it doesn’t provide absolute rights to Indigenous people without consideration to other people’s rights,” the article states. “That is particularly so when there is, legally, an asserted but unproven title, as is the case for the Líl̓wat and the N’Quatqua Nations over the park lands.”
Many British Columbians have been vocal in expressing their frustration with the closures.
“Enough. Racial segregation has no place in British Columbia or in Canada,” Paul Ratchford, candidate for the Conservative Party of B.C., said in a post on X.
Scott McInnis, another member of the Conservative Party of B.C., added, “These closures sets precedent for the entire province which will force the government to accept any public land closure on traditional territory across B.C. Banning the public to a public park for 100 days is plain wrong.”
“Provincial parks must serve everyone in this province—not just a select few. Joffre Lakes belongs to all of us,” one local said in a post on X.
Another user shares the sentiment: “Our provincial parks belong to all of us.”
However, some appear to be happy with the closures.
“The people who come from the city do not spend any money in the S2S and only contribute garbage, traffic jams and a massive carbon footprint,” one X user said.
