Closing provincial parks for indigenous reconnection is absolutely racist and discriminatory.

[blackbird]

"Canadian nature lovers are outraged by a government decision to shutter beauty spots to the public so they can be used exclusively by native groups to 'reconnect' with the land. Outdoors enthusiasts have slammed the government of British Columbia for closing Joffre Lakes Park and its turquoise waters for more than 100 days in peak season to regular taxpayers.  

The same goes for the 24-hour closure of Botanical Beach on Vancouver Island to nonindigenous people, so members of the Pacheedaht First Nation could have it to themselves. Critics have taken to social media to slam the closures as unfair and 'apartheid, Canadian-style,' with native groups getting special treatment as everyone else is sidelined.

The province's Ministry of Environment and Parks has called the closures part of a 'path of reconciliation' with native people. The controversy follows a blockbuster Canadian election that was overshadowed by US President Donald Trump 's push to make Canada a '51st state' of America. The vast country has been convulsed by its own culture wars after a decade of former prime minister Justin Trudeau's ultra-liberal rule.

Caroline Elliott (pictured), director of the Public Land Use Society, a campaign group, slammed the closure of Joffre Lakes as unfair in a recent post on X that's been viewed 172,000 times and generated hundred of comments. 'It's divisive, it sets a terrible precedent, and it's just plain wrong,' Elliott says in the video. 'What it isn't is complicated. BC's parks belong to all British Columbians.' Angry social media users commented on the video, saying the shuttering was 'discriminatory,' and amounted to 'identity politics,' 'racial segregation,' and even an 'apartheid, Canadian-style.' 'These are provincial parks, not tribal reserves,' posted one user. 'Everyone pays for them. Everyone maintains them. Everyone should be welcome.'  

Joffre Lakes park has been closed in peak season so that the Líl̓wat Nation and the N'Quatqua First Nation can have exclusive access to its turquoise lakes, streams, and forests annually since 2023. Each year, the closures have grown longer, leaving some worried that one of the province's busiest parks would be shuttered to nonindigenous residents permanently in the future. The closure lasted for only 39 days in 2023, but grew to 60 days in 2024 and more than 100 days this year, says Elliott. The ministry in a statement to the Daily Mail said it was 'important to give time and space for the land to rest, while ensuring the Nations can use this space as they always have. 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,' said the statement. 'We continue to work with the Nations to ensure opportunities exist for people to access the park in a responsible and sustainable way.'

Back in 2023, the closure was not initiated by the officials – native groups unilaterally decided to deny access to other residents so they could practice their hunting and fishing traditions there. A statement from the group at the time said they were 'asserting our Title and Rights to our shared unceded territory to take this time to harvest and gather our resources within our territories.' During last year's closure, Líl̓wat Nation Chief Dean Nelson said the park was sacred to his community.  "

Well, I've got news for Chief Dean Nelson.   Parks and wilderness areas are sacred to everyone.  God created this earth for the benefit of everyone, not just you.

[CdnFox]

It is racist and discriminatory, but that should not come as news. We've seen even worse examples such as the black only black only staff shelter being opened in Toronto which I pointed out a few days ago.

[herbie]

Letting them use their own historic lands for ceremonies for a couple weeks a year is just too damn much discrimination against white Christian (non Catholic) males to put up with.
It's an outrage, I tell you! An outrage!

Any consideration to someone else is discrimination against me. Me me me me me me me

[CdnFox]

2 hours ago, herbie said:

Letting them use their own historic lands for ceremonies for a couple weeks a year is just too damn much

Would banning them from those lands be ok?

this really isn't complicated.  when you give people special treatment based on race then you promote the hell out of racism. 

If you wanted to do something that WASN'T about racism, then let them throw events there celebrating their heratige and invite anyone who wants to see and learn. 

If it's ok for them to exclude us from their events then it's ok for us to exclude them from ours.  That's how it works. You don't get to have "good" racism and "bad" racism. either it's good or it's bad. 

[herbie]

4 hours ago, herbie said:

Any consideration to someone else is discrimination against me. Me me me me me me me

Confirm that exact statement again please.

[CdnFox]

1 hour ago, herbie said:

Confirm that exact statement again please.

Yes, we get that's how you feel.  Giving consideration to others or to non natives is considered by you to be 'discrimination'. We understand your point. 

But it's still discrimination and racist to think that way. Sorry. 

[herbie]

It's not how I "feel" - it's fact. You nutzoids are the ones that "feel" you're being deprived of something.

[CdnFox]

15 minutes ago, herbie said:

It's not how I "feel" - it's fact. 

We also understand that you believe that your feelings are facts. 

They are not. 

And you'd have to be THAT delusional to think that denying access to something for every group but one is being 'inclusive' or 'being considerate'  of people.   

Sorry kiddo.  Your hatred and bigotry probably sounds good in your head, but it's just hatred and bigotry to everyone else. 

[herbie]

Listen: We took their ceremonial place they used for 10,000 years, made it a park and you're outraged we "let" them use it for a couple weeks so you can't roast marshmallows there.
Like asides from being a totally selfish arsehole or compulsively belligerent what grounds do you base your outrage upon?

[CdnFox]

23 minutes ago, herbie said:

Listen: We took their ceremonial place they used for 10,000 years, made it a park 

No we didn't.  We didnt' "take" anything.  

And they vote and they have representation so they did it just as much as others 

And they benefit from that arrangment and always have, 

So YOU listen. Your lies and bullshit don't excuse your racism, bigotry or hatred. 

This is now CANADIANS ancestral home and has been for hundreds of years. It is EVERY bit as much ours as theirs and is now part of OUR history and OUR culture and so are they, they're not wearing deer hide they chewed into shape these days are they. 

So it's fine to say we should recognize the history, but not to the point of excluding the rightful people of this land.  Sorry 

YOU might think of yourself as a settler.  I'm native. This is where i was born, this is my land 

[Legato]

21 hours ago, herbie said:

Letting them use their own historic lands for ceremonies for a couple weeks a year is just too damn much discrimination against white Christian (non Catholic) males to put up with.
It's an outrage, I tell you! An outrage!

Any consideration to someone else is discrimination against me. Me me me me me me me

I'm English with over 90% Scandinavian genes, so a Viking.

The Angels, Saxons and Celts etc didn't ban me from  pissing up a tree in the National Parks. 

[CdnFox]

30 minutes ago, Legato said:

I'm English with over 90% Scandinavian genes, so a Viking.

So basically honoring your ancestral traditions would involve attacking the first nations, raping their women, stealing their harvests and burning their vilages 

Ya know - maybe we should be careful about putting TOOO much weight in ancestral traditions   

[herbie]

3 hours ago, Legato said:

The Angels, Saxons and Celts etc didn't ban me from  pissing up a tree in the National Parks.

You would've got a spear thru your chest if you pissed on their carpet.

[Legato]

1 hour ago, herbie said:

You would've got a spear thru your chest if you pissed on their carpet.

Would that be before or after we raped and pillaged their villages?

BTW, the Romans took all their carpets back home with them.