Hello blog readers!
British Columbia is full of many beautiful places, and I’d like to feature them on the blog! I will be writing a short series on Indigenous spaces in BC, and the first place I’m highlighting is Say Nuth Khaw Yum Provincial Park. It is important to note that unfortunately until recently in 2010, the name of the park was unjustly known as Indian Arm Provincial Park. This was until an agreement was made between B.C Parks and the səlilwətaɬ (Tsleil-Waututh) First Nation to change the name to ‘Say Nuth Khaw Yum’ which means “Serpent’s Land”. The park is located in the Lower Mainland extending north from Burrard Inlet, and is known for its beautiful scenery. This includes the surrounding islands, beaches, forests and viewpoints along the hiking trails. It is also home to an array of wildlife including fish, seals, sea otters and many species of birds.
The place is especially important because of the historical and cultural significance it holds for the Tsleil-Waututh People. The land, its ecosystems, resources and history provide a significant connection to ancestral ways of living and traditional food sources. Inlailawatash, a historic village site, now hosts two reserves and the area continues to be used for salmon fishing and drying today. Moreover, several places inside the park are considered sacred and hold spiritual value. Currently, the Tsleil-Waututh Nation and BC Parks manage the park collaboratively (learn more about the management plan here), with many stewardship and preservation initiatives led by Tsleil-Waututh Nation to protect the cultural and historical identity of the park. For example, building a longhouse in the park as a place to gather, feast, and for Elders to pass on knowledge to the next generation has been a longstanding goal. In a 2023 article about the planned longhouse, Susie Chant, MLA for North Vancouver-Seymour, also recognized that “[the Tsleil-Waututh Nation’s] ongoing stewardship of the lands and waters along the Burrard Inlet have restored much of the coastal habitat” of the park. The Tsleil-Waututh Nation’s involvement has allowed better strategies to be put in place to monitor and maintain the park’s vegetation, wildlife habitats (especially for the elk population) and water quality.
Parks like Say Nuth Khaw Yum are not only important as areas of protected biodiversity and educational opportunities for visitors to learn about the Indigenous land, culture and history that they live on. They are also an essential part of reconciliation efforts in Canada, and serve as an example of the ecological and cultural importance of letting Indigenous nations manage their ancestral lands and guide the rebuilding and maintenance of relationships between people, land and water.
Author: Maya Kaur, ITMP Blog Writer
Image Credits: BC Parks via Say Nuth Khaw Yum Park webpage
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