The Líl̓wat Nation is calling on the province to recognize longer 2026 Reconnection Periods it says are needed at Pipi7íyekw/Joffre Lakes Park, arguing B.C.’s shorter closure dates do not give its members enough time to safely harvest, hold ceremony, teach youth and carry out stewardship responsibilities on the land.
In a May 27 release, the Nation said it identified three Reconnection Periods to the province back in April; those windows were April 19 to May 11, June 20 to 27, and Aug. 23 to Oct. 5.
The province instead announced shorter closure periods of June 20 to 27 and Sept. 8 to 30, according to a BC Parks’ announcement earlier this month.
“These dates were not requests,” said Líl̓wat Political Chief Dean Nelson. “They are the Reconnection Periods that Líl̓wat requires so our people can harvest, hold ceremony, teach our children on the land, and carry out our stewardship responsibilities in Pipi7íyekw.”
The Nation said the province’s decision to announce different dates “without any further engagement or discussion with Líl̓wat” has further undermined an already strained relationship.
Years of pressure on Pipi7íyekw
The dispute is the latest in a years-long effort to balance heavy recreational demand at one of B.C.’s busiest provincial parks with Líl̓wat and N’Quatqua rights, title and cultural responsibilities in the area.
Pipi7íyekw, located east of Pemberton on the Duffey Lake Road, sits within the unceded territories of Líl̓wat Nation and N’Quatqua. The park was established as a recreation area in 1988 and became a Class A provincial park in 1996.
In more recent years, the park’s combination of stunning alpine lake views and relatively low barrier to entry for hikers of all abilities have helped turn it into one of the most heavily visited parks in the BC Parks system.
That popularity has sharpened concerns about the impacts of recreation.
In its release, Líl̓wat said heavy use from late spring to early fall harms the land and interferes with the Nation’s ability to exercise its rights and responsibilities “in a safe and meaningful way,” including through “removal of critical species, destruction of landscape and preventing access to ceremony.”
Read the full story at Pique Magazine: Líl̓wat calls on province to honour longer Joffre closures.