Under Metro Vancouver's jurisdiction, Crippen Park is protected from First Nations land claims. But if it gets incorporated into a national park reserve, it will become fair game, says Lonnie Hindle.
Hindle said, "I went to the [Parks Canada] presentation at BICS to ask the question, 'Where is the Squamish Nation in this process?' Because they're key in this process. I personally know the majority of the Squamish Nation chiefs. Just last week I ran into one of them and he told me that he hadn't talked to [Parks Canada]. I asked him, 'If we became a national park and incorporated some of Crippen Park, would you be interested in that?' And he said, 'Absolutely.'"
Hindle moved to Bowen to become a full-time resident in 2002 after retiring from a long career in the federal government. He is of Gitxsan descent and is not a spokesperson for local First Nations. But he is well connected. He says, "Some of the Squamish chiefs come to me for advice because they know I'm an old federal bureaucrat."
Mitch Sokalski, acting department Manager for Metro Vancouver Regional Parks, says that Crippen is fee simple title land, i.e. private. It was purchased as private land and even though it became a park, its status hasn't changed.
Fee simple title lands are exempt from First Nations land claims according to the tripartite agreement that set out the terms for land claim negotiations in B.C. But if Crippen were to become a part of the national park reserve, it would become Crown land.
Crippen Park is not the only land on Bowen that is potentially subject to land claims but Hindle thinks that its location makes it particularly attractive. He said, "As we are today, there is really no interest by the Squamish people. It could be 20 years down the road that they could do this. And they would be looking for an Ambleside, for anything that is valuable land. The land over at the lagoon or where the cottages are, that would be wide open to land claims. They're not interested in the top of Mount Gardner. And if that would come through, it could become an Indian reserve and could be developed and the council would not have a say."
Hindle knows that, at this point, this is conjecture. Councillor Peter Frinton said, "We have to be aware that there are still treaty issues that have not been fully resolved. Here is my basic understanding. Any time a federal or provincial government wants to do something with lands in an area where First Nations have a treaty claim or have expressed an interest or claim as part of trade territory, there is an obligation to consult with them."
Parks Canada said that the Squamish Nation was approached at the outset of the feasibility assessment and that it has an ongoing dialogue that will lead to community consultations.
Parks Canada says, "Crippen lands are part of the territory that Squamish Nation asserts rights over, which can include the right to resource harvesting and cultural practices. As part of a national park reserve, there would be an opportunity for First Nations to discuss Crippen lands through the treaty process. If there was an interest in a specific portion of Crippen, Parks Canada would enter into a discussion with First Nations to thoroughly consider other options to accommodate the request, such as compensation for the land, development of economic opportunities, or the transfer of other lands in lieu of Crippen."
Crippen is an area that Parks Canada would want to keep as part of the park reserve. Parks Canada sees Crippen as a fundamental part of the national park reserve and says, "Our first priority would be to protect the ecological integrity of Crippen and ensure it is available for future generations of Canadians to enjoy."
According to Parks Canada, "National park reserves are places where First Nations and Parks Canada share a vision of ecological protection." And traditional renewable resource harvesting activities as well as cultural practices by First Nations people are often part of it.
And there are many ways to engage in this discussion. According to the April 8, 2011 Vancouver mayor's committee report to the Metro Vancouver Board, "the Squamish Nation has not negotiated treaties since 2000 but has, instead, aggressively pursued ATR (Additions to reserve) both within and outside Metro Vancouver."
At press time, the Squamish Nation had not yet issued a statement on the subject.
Hindle doesn't believe that the consultation process has been properly initiated. He said, "I am offended that our mayor and council did not talk to us before. That would have been common courtesy. And if our councillors were aware of the issue, why didn't they talk to us." To clarify his position, he added, "I am not pro-park or against a park on Bowen. I just think that all the facts should be on the table so that people can make an informed decision."
Hindle also pointed out that there are alternative ways to protect Bowen's forest. He said, "I met with a number of groups. There are net revenues for managing the forest and selling carbon offsets. This is a whole new economy that could bring revenue here to Bowen Island."
