Working in collaboration with Líl ̓wat Nation and N’Quatqua around Pipi7íyekw/Joffre Lakes Park

BC Parks and Líl̓wat Nation and N’Quatqua are committed to working towards a relationship based on mutual respect, and the recognition and application of Aboriginal title and rights. 

Working collaboratively on visitor use  

Prior to 2020, attendance to Pipi7íyekw/Joffre Lakes Park increased significantly, and visitor attendance to Pipi7íyekw/Joffre Lakes Park hit an all-time high of 196,322 visitors in 2019, an increase of 222% visitors from 2010.  

Due to the significant increase in the number of visitors to BC Parks, Líl̓wat Nation and N’Quatqua began working in collaboration on the creation of the Visitor Use Management Strategy (VUMS). The strategy was released in 2021 and guides the long-term management of the park and collaboratively addresses key management issues associated with the dramatic increase in visitation to Pipi7íyekw/Joffre Lakes Park. Since then, BC Parks, Líl̓wat Nation and N’Quatqua have collaborated through a technical working group to implement the Pipi7íyekw/Joffre Lakes Park Visitor Use Management Strategy.   

The Pipi7íyekw/Joffre Lakes 2024 Operations Plan 

To celebrate shared stewardship values, and recognize the importance of the Pipi7íyekw/Joffre Lakes Park area to the Líl̓wat Nation and N’Quatqua, we are taking steps this summer to reduce the number of people who visit the park each day. This will reduce impacts to the park, allowing it to rest and will also establish three Reconnection Celebration time periods to provide exclusive space for Líl̓wat Nation and N’Quatqua to connect with the land.  

The 2024 operational plan will work towards the primary VUMS purpose — to manage the park to maintain its natural state. 

Two important aspects of the plan include:  

• Three Pipi7íyekw Reconnection Celebration time periods will provide the opportunity for time and space for Líl̓wat Nation and N’Quatqua to reconnect with the land and carry out traditional, sustenance, cultural and spiritual practices. During these time periods, the park will be closed to recreational access and the general public, and no day-use passes or camping reservations will be available. 
• Managing to a capacity of 500 people per day – this number includes both day-use pass holders and campers. 

The Pipi7íyekw Reconnection Celebration time periods are as follows:  

• April 30 – May 15  – Stl’atl’imx Days- A celebration of the Declaration of the Lillooet Tribe May 10^th 1911 https://statimc.ca/about/lillooet-declaration/ 
• June 14 – 23 – Summer solstice and National Indigenous Peoples Day celebrations  
• September 3 – October 6 – Fall harvest celebrations and National Day for Truth and Reconciliation Day recognition. 

These Reconnection Celebration time periods are significant for our shared collaborative work towards managing Pipi7íyekw/Joffre Lakes Park. The Pipi7íyekw Reconnection Celebration time periods offer an opportunity for Líl̓wat Nation and N’Quatqua to exercise their constitutionally protected Aboriginal Rights and is in keeping with the provincial Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples Act (DRIPA).  

During these time periods, the park will be closed to recreation and no day-use passes or camping reservations will be available. Recreation will resume in the park after each of the three periods.   

Why we continue to manage park visitation.  

Pipi7íyekw/Joffre Lakes Park has seen a significant increase in visitors in recent years. Under the guidance of the VUMS, the free day-use pass system has been in place at Joffre Lakes since 2021 to help manage the number of people visiting. The VUMS states that we aim to “monitor and assess the visitor capacity over time and adjust as necessary to protect values.” This means the decisions made and numbers set through the VUMS are adaptive based on the impacts to the park’s ecology. 

Due to the dramatic increase in visitation to the park over many years, this relatively small and sensitive area has undergone many negative impacts. This plan to continue adjusting visitation levels will improve the visitor experience for those who visit the park – providing more solitude and enjoyment for hikers and campers alike. Managing visitors also allows the park to rest and recover from years of overuse. The 2024 operational plan supports the primary VUMS purpose — to maintain the park’s natural state.  

Pipi7íyekw/Joffre Lakes Park is home to many species including ungulates, small mammals, and many birds. It also provides a habitat for grizzly bears, wolverines, and summer habitat for mountain goats. By managing the number of visitors in the park we are providing an opportunity to get the park back to its natural state – reducing impacts to wildlife and environmental values.  

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In keeping with the adaptive and collaborative framework of the VUMS, we will continue to work together to plan for future years of use at Pipi7íyekw/Joffre Lakes Park. 

Thank you for respecting the Reconnection Celebration time periods and visiting Pipi7íyekw/Joffre Lakes Park with a free day-use pass when the park is open to recreation this summer. 

Read more here:  

• To learn how to pronounce Pipi7íyekw: First Voices 
• To view the Pipi7íyekw /Joffre Lakes Park Visitor Use Management Strategy, visit: https://bcparks.ca/joffre-lakes-park-vums/  
• To learn more about Pipi7íyekw/Joffre Lakes Park: https://bcparks.ca/joffre-lakes-park/