Joffre Lakes Park facing temporary closures over the summer

Upper Joffre Lake is seen in Pemberton, B.C.

B.C.’s Joffre Lakes Park is facing another two rounds of closures in June and August to allow for local First Nations to reconnect to their land and culture in private, according to the Lil’wat Nation.

The park, also known as Pipi7íyekw, will be closed between June 13 and 27 and between August 22 and Oct. 23 to allow for spiritual and cultural activities such as hunting, fishing, harvesting medicines, a statement from the nation said.

It comes after an initial closure that spanned the first three weeks of May. During which, Environment Minister Tamara Davidson was invited to the park to witness firsthand the benefits the break of visitors had on both the community and the land.

According to the nation, Davidson and her team met with Lil’wat and N’Quatqua leadership at the park on May 16, where they hiked to the first lake and “engaged in meaningful discussions about the future stewardship of the area.”

“Since 2023 Lil’wat and N’Quatqua Nations have established reconnection periods for Pipi7iyekw, during which the park is not open to the public, to allow time for their community members to practice Nt̓ákmen (meaning “our way”),” the statement said.

“This means providing dedicated periods of time for their community members to reconnect to their land and culture, while also providing time for the land to rest from human impacts.”

The nation said community members are getting to utilize areas where they were previously removed or denied access, and the reconnection is integral to the well-being of the two Nations’ community members as they look for traditional methods to help cope with grief, addictions, suicide and mental health.

A spokesperson from B.C.’s Ministry of Environment and Parks said no firm dates for future temporary closures of the park have yet been agreed upon.

The spokesperson said, however, that “all agree it is important for people to have continued, predictable access” to the park and it is also important “to give time and space for the land to rest, while ensuring the nations can use this space as they always have.”

“Maintaining a healthy park and supporting First Nations cultural practices are two sides of the same coin,” the spokesperson said.

“We have built a strong relationship with the Lil’wat and N’Quatqua to make sure the natural and cultural values of the park are protected. We continue to work with the Nations to ensure opportunities exist for people to access the park in a responsible and sustainable way.”

The ministry said it will notify the public once an agreed schedule is confirmed.