Huge 'tribal park' with stunning ecosystem to span BC-Alberta
It's not official yet, but a new park that straddle the border with Alberta could have a significant impact in the north, particularly in resource industries.
Doig River band, 249 people said they are 90 000 hectares establish a "Tribal Park" covering their traditional territory in British Columbia and north-east to north-western Alberta.
K'ih Tsaa? Dze that the park is called (it means "old spruce" in the language Dane-z) crosses the provincial border in a region that is rich in oil resources and the forest at a time.But Doig said he is also a place to hunt, fish and go for spiritual renewal - and they have drawn a clear line around what is important to them.
Tribal park could not exist legally, but as the Tla-o-qui-aht showed in 1984 when they established an in Clayoquot Sound, they can have a reality of their own. This park was to protect Meares Island from logging and 27 years later, it's always done exactly that. The island lies just off Tofino, where its ancient forest provides an ideal setting for a small town that thrives on tourism.
This may be a while before that tourism develops in K'ih Tsaa?dze, 75 kilometers northeast of Fort St. John, but judging by what Herb Hammond said, he got the potential - if changing the oil, gas and logging are controlled.
Hammond, Silva Ecosystem Consultants Ltd., was hired by the group to draft a management plan for the park. He is an expert on boreal forest ecosystems. And he said what he saw in K'ih Tsaa? Dze surprised him.
"I saw some forests - period - that are also biologically diverse and rich as this," he said.
“I’ve worked in the boreal forest in every province across this country in the past 15 years and I’ve spent time in the boreal in Russia and have dipped into Finland. My eyes have seen a lot of forest.
“Good healthy ecosystems are hard to compare. They are all unique and they are all amazing in their own way, but the structural diversity in the landscape in K’ih tsaa?dze . . .is pretty amazing,” he said.
Mears Island Bc - News
The tribal parks along BC's West Coast islands also started with unilateral declarations designed to prevent forestry companies from moving into their territories. The Meares Island tribal park claim was resolved, in part, through a court injunction in
There is usually very little development allowed in provincial or national parks, but first nations in BC have been using a different model for tribal parks. For example, the Tla-o-qui-aht, which after setting aside Meares Island also established parks
The first reference to shipbuilding in what would become BC was in 1788, when the sloop North West America was built in Nootka Sound by Chinese workers under the direction of John Meares to facilitate trade between China and Europe.
Inflatable Kayaking in B.C.: Meares Island
I have always wanted to go out on the water, after moving to Vancouver a few years ago discovered the perfect solution, kayaking. Self-powered, economic, ecological, silent ... my ideal tour. Storage space and vehicle issues prevented me from making a rigid shell. I considered folders, but ended up becoming obsessed with inflatable kayaks. So to spare friends and family the pain of hearing me go, I created this blog. We spent the long weekend in May for a trip to Tofino, and a circumnavigation of Meares Island. I've been to Tofino before, several times, but especially for Long Beach and surfing.This was my first trip to Clayoquot Sound. I traveled with my friend Chris and a number of members of my local meetup group kayak. 8 of us altogether and it was a great group of people. We launched from the paddler Inn in Tofino, where most groups were renters. Chris had his Yostwerks, Neal and Lily had their own double and of course I had the SEAK. With Sunny still out of commission, I will be using it much more this year and in any case is the kind of trip that Sunny might not be appropriate for. Mainly due to the rain, we have not seen any significant heavy water.As usual, I brought too much junk. And it was difficult in all in the boat. And when I launch I did not feel like I packed correctly, did not feel very comfortable in the boat, especially with the rudder pedals. And then, immediately, we paddled right on top of some of the mudflats surrounding area. Stuck several times trying to find a way through. 15 minutes after launch and I have to call it a day. This was not well so I decided to just calm down and take a break. Cooler and cracked open a beer. Felt better right away!So with a better frame of mind I did on the sand bars and joined the group. Coming through the passage, I noticed a large black mass on the beach.