Basic Land Use Principles
We will consider- and potentially support – a wide range of land uses within our Territory. However, at a minimum, development must follow these basic land use principles:
Maintain Healthy Ecosystems
This means development and use must not result in significant damage to the natural environment unless it is can be repaired or mitigated.
Promote Water Stewardship
Water nourishes entire ecosystems and provides important habitat for plants and animals. It is required for our homes, schools and businesses. It also essential to the spiritual, cultural and physical wellbeing of our people. Water is the lifeblood of our Territory. Protecting water in all its forms (rivers, streams, lakes, wetlands, groundwater and rainwater) is imperative. Development and use must not permanently impact water quality or quantity. A water steward ship plan is required for new development and use if negative impacts are expected.
Important Note -> The potable water supplied to our main community comes from Quatse Lake – in the Territory of our neighbours (Kwakiutl First Nation). The Federal Government holds tenure here on behalf of Quatsino First Nation. This is a unique situation where our interests extend beyond the boundaries of our Territory.
Protect and Preserve Old Forests
Old forests are critically important to healthy ecosystems and are a critically important cultural resource for our people. They help regulate stream temperature and keep the water cool and clean in the summer. This is vital for healthy fish stocks and shellfish. Old trees are also required for carving and ceremonial purposes. Unfortunately, most of our Territory was logged without our consent and mature stands are getting harder to find. All remaining stands of old growth cedar are off-limits for commercial logging and mature second growth forests may only be harvested if plans are consistent with our Cedar Strategy.
Meaningful Consultation and Benefits to Our People
Proponents of new developments and uses must follow Quatsino First Nation Consultation Accommodation Policy (See Appendix D).
Decision Making and Permitting Authority
Quatsino First Nation will develop permitting and licensing for proponents in our Territory. These ‘Quatsino Permits’ will be required for all individuals, companies, Nations, governments, Quatsino First Nation members and other proponents wishing to engage in any activity and will supersede all federal and provincial permitting and licensing,
Protect Culturally Significant Lands and Resources
This means protection of the following areas from adverse impacts associated with resource development and land uses:
- Historic villages;
- Traditional resource collection and processing sites;
- Burial sites (e.g. often small islands located near historic village sites);
- Sacred and spiritual sites (e.g. locations that correspond with out origin stories).
It also means traditional resources that are valuable to us must be protected and maintained in sufficient quality and quantity.
Action Item -> We intend on working with our elders and active land users to formally document a “Quatsino Calendar” that highlights our annual round and traditional resources that are culturally significant. This will be displayed as a wheel, with each segment pertaining to a month in the year. Within each month, the resource harvested, and its purpose(s) will be stated.
Consider Cumulative Effects and Climate Change
The impact of a single development can look small if it is considered in isolation. However, when it is considered over time, and in conjunction with other development, it can often result significant adverse effects. When a new development is proposed cumulative impacts must be considered.
Action Item -> Quatsino First Nation will look for opportunities to seek funding and work collaboratively with government and industry proponents to develop a framework for monitoring and assessing cumulative effects – including ones associated with climate change.
Address Reconciliation through Reclamation
Historic resource extraction practices in our Territory were often very poor and resulted in significant adverse impacts. Logging too close to streams led to increased sediment and higher water temperatures, which has contributed to declines in salmon stocks. Dumping of waste rock from mining activities into the Quatsino Sound has negatively impacted shellfish. Healing the land is now an important priority for our people. It will be key to establishing new positive relationships. Industry proponents associated with poor historic practices must contribute to healing the land if the are going to continue operating in our Territory.
Tenure (Application and Approval)
New tenures issued by the Crown (for forestry, mining, energy production… etc.) will not be recognized unless Quatsino First Nation has provided consent (see Quatsino First Nation Consultation Accommodation Policy in Appendix D).
Action Item -> Quatsino First Nation will develop its own application and approval process for granting tenure within its Territory.
Sector Specific Directives
The “Sector Specific Policy Directives” provide goals and policy directives for achieving the strategic objectives in accordance with the land use principles.
Forestry
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Policy Directives |
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Other Notes |
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Mining
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Policy Directives |
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Other Notes |
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Energy Development
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Policy Directives |
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Other Notes |
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Commercial Fishing and Aquaculture
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Policy Directives |
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Other Notes |
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Urban and Rural Land Development
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Policy Directives |
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Other Notes |
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Eco-Tourism and Outdoor Recreation
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Policy Directives |
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Other Notes |
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Special Management Areas
We have established the following “Special Management Areas” within our Territory:
Quatsino/Quattishe Special Management Area
Winter Harbour Special Management Area
Koprino Harbour Special Management Area
Cape Scott Special Management Area
Marble River Watershed Special Management Area
Mahatta River Watershed Special Management Area
These are areas of critical interest that require additional protection and warrant a more detailed policy framework – one that expands upon our overarching principles (see Section 4.1). Map 2 shows the extent of these Special Management Areas. The following pages provide background, establish overarching goals and specific policies for each Special Management Area.
Important Note -> Additional Special Management Areas will be created in the future as new issues and priorities emerge
Overlapping Special Management Areas?
In some cases, our Special Management Areas overlap. If this is the case the more restrictive set of policies will apply (see image below).
If policies contradict here, then the more restrictive one(s) apply.
Quatsino/Quattishe Special Management Area
This is an area of critical importance to our people. It is the “gateway” to our Territory and our “backyard”. Our current community is located within this area as well as the historic village we were relocated from in the 1970’s (i.e. Quattishe).
Goal(s):
To protect and celebrate our history here.
To remain an important settlement area for our people in the future.
Policies:
Further alienation of land in this area (by granting new tenures or disposition of Crown land) will not be permitted – especially along the waterfront.
Implement various community development initiatives in this area (see Section 5.1)
Acquire new reserve lands for community expansion in this area (see Section 5.4).
Secure resources from the Crown to properly remediate the abandoned Island Copper Mine.
Important Note -> Since being abandoned, the Island Copper Mine has been inundated by the sea and it leaks heavy metals and other contaminants into the inlet. Remediating this site is a top priority for our people.
Work with partners to promote eco-tourism and cultural tourism opportunities in this area.
Limit commercial logging in this area, especially near our Reserve Lands and important view corridors (along the highway and from the ocean).
Conservation activities here will not unduly or negatively impact another area. The actions here must cause a net reduction in destructive actions, rather than relocating such practices elsewhere.
Winter Harbour Special Management Area
This is a culturally significant area for our people. It was a sacred point of origin for our Giopino (Gob’inuxw) ancestors. Several historic village sites and resource sites used by our Giopino (Gob’inuxw) and Quatsino (Qwat’sinuxw) ancestors were clustered here. The village at Grass Point was used until the 1970’s when the Federal Government facilitated our relocation to our current community. Some of our members still have cabins and choose to live here seasonally.
Goal(s):
To protect and celebrate our history in this area.
To provide opportunities for members to move back to Winter Harbour, even if it is just seasonally.
Policies:
Further alienation of land in this area (by granting new tenures or disposition of Crown land) will not be tolerated – especially along the waterfront.
Establish prominent interpretive signage throughout Winter Harbour that explains our history in area and tells how our reserve lands here were wrongfully taken and given to settlers.
Implement various community development initiatives in this area (see Section 5.1).
Work with partners to promote eco-tourism and cultural tourism opportunities in this area.
Establish a resort development on our reserve lands.
Prohibit commercial logging in this area.
Conservation activities here will not unduly or negatively impact another area. The actions here must cause a net reduction in destructive actions, rather than relocating such practices elsewhere.
Koprino Harbour Special Management Area
This is a culturally significant area for our people. It was a sacred point of origin for our Giopino (Gob’inuxw) ancestors. Important Giopino (Gob’inuxw) winter villages were located here until the 1860’s when a small pox epidemic decimated the population. Survivors were forced to amalgamate with our Koskimo (Gusgimukw) ancestors and soon began wintering with them at Quattishe. However, Koprino Harbour remained (and continues to remain) an important spiritual site and area for fishing and clams. In the 1970’s, we were forced to give up our main reserve at Koprino Harbour (IR #10) when the Federal Government facilitated our relocation to our current community.
Goal(s):
To protect and celebrate our history in this area.
To develop infrastructure that will make it easier for our members to practice our traditions and harvest resources in this area.
Policies:
Establish prominent interpretive signage throughout Koprino Harbour that explains our history in area and tells how we were forced to give up our main reserve here when we were relocated to our current community.
Implement various community development initiatives in this area (campsites, trails, cabin, smoke houses… etc.).
Work with partners to promote eco-tourism and cultural tourism opportunities in this area.
Establish a Tribal Park here and work with the British Columbia government to have the park formally recognized with protections from future resource development (e.g. logging).
Conservation activities here will not unduly or negatively impact another area. The actions here must cause a net reduction in destructive actions, rather than relocating such practices elsewhere.
Cape Scott Special Management Area
This is a culturally significant area for our people. Our Koskimo (Gusgimukw) and Quatsino (Qwat’sinuxw) ancestors originated from sacred origin points along the north coast of Vancouver Island here. Much of this area is protected and falls within Cape Scott Provincial Park.
Goal(s):
To protect and celebrate our history in this area.
Policies:
Work with the British Columbia Government (BC Parks) to:
– Expand Cape Scott Provincial Park to the south so that the entire area around San Josef Bay is protected.
Important Note -> our Quatsino (Qwat’sinuxw) ancestors originated from sacred origin points around San Josef Bay. Part of this area, but not all of it, falls within Cape Scott Provincial Park.
– Establish material and interpretive signage at our historic village site that explain our important history in this area.
Conservation activities here will not unduly or negatively impact another area. The actions must cause a net reduction in destructive actions, rather than relocating such practices elsewhere.
Marble River Watershed Special Management Area
Historic village sites were located at the mouth of the Marble River mainly because of the significant salmon fisheries located there. All five species of pacific salmon return to spawn in this watershed. However, logging and other historic resource development has had significant adverse impacts. As a Department of Fisheries and Ocean’s Report summarizes: [5]
The Alice Lake area was heavily logged by Rayonier and McMillan Bloedel Ltd. in the 1940’s. The Victoria Lake drainage was extensively logged prior to the mid 1960’s. The middle and upper Benson and upper Marble Rivers… were logged McMillan Bloedel Ltd. [in the 1980’s]… Numerous mining ventures have operated in the watershed, principally in the Benson River area. In 1959, waste from Mannix Iron Mines was reported entering the Benson River. The tailings from Cominco’s Benson Lake copper operation were dumped into Benson Lake until its closure in 1972.
[5] P.E. Sprout and F.J. Fraser, A Preliminary Report on the Salmon Resource and Potential Enhancement Opportunities of the Northern West Coast of Vancouver Island (Areas 26 and 27), Vancouver Department of Fisheries and Oceans, 1981. p. 52 (http://www.dfo-mpo.gc.ca/Library/30839.pdf)
Goal(s):
To heal the land.
Restore salmon stocks to historic levels that would have existed prior to the 1900’s.
Policies:
Work with the Department of Fisheries and Oceans (Federal Government) and the Ministry of Forests, Lands and Natural Resource Operations (Provincial Government), to update fish habitat assessments for the Marble River watershed.
Work with the Provincial Government and industry proponents to establish a Watershed Management Plan that:
– Identifies and prioritizes fish habitat improvements;
– Protects stream flows and groundwater resources;
– Considers cumulative effects and potential impacts associated with climate change (see Section 4.1);
– Establishes enhanced development standards and practices;
– Sets clear thresholds for development.
Examine proposed developments and land uses on a case-by case basis until a Watershed Management Plan is complete.
Conservation actions carried out here will not unduly or negatively impact another area. The actions must cause a net reduction in destructive actions, rather than relocating such practices elsewhere.
Mahatta River Watershed Special Management Area
The Mahatta River once supported significant sockeye salmon runs. In the past, an important Koskimo (Gusgimukw) village called Maate was located at the mouth of the river. It was located next to a salmon weir that helped sustain our people. In 1892, a reserve was surveyed here for our people (IR#8). However, soon after the Quatsino Cannery was established approximately 1.5 km west of our reserve and commercial fishermen began exploiting the salmon stocks. They soon collapsed, and the Cannery was abandoned by the 1930’s. Logging began in the Mahatta River watershed in the mid-50’s and by 1980 virtually the entire watershed, except for sections near the creek mouth, had been logged.[6] Commercial fishing led to the initial decline in fish stocks, however, poor logging practices starting in the 1950’s, impacted fish habitat and has hampered recovery.
[6]P.E. Sprout and F.J. Fraser, A Preliminary Report on the Salmon Resource and Potential Enhancement Opportunities of the Northern West Coast of Vancouver Island (Areas 26 and 27), Vancouver Department of Fisheries and Oceans, 1981. p. 49 (http://www.dfo-mpo.gc.ca/Library/30839.pdf)
Goal(s):
To heal the land.
To restore sockeye salmon stocks to their historic abundance so they can once again sustain an instream food fishery for our people.
Policies:
Work with the Department of Fisheries and Oceans (Federal Government) and the Ministry of Forests, Lands and Natural Resource Operations (Provincial Government), to update fish habitat assessments for the Mahatta River watershed.
Work with the Provincial Government, industry proponents and the Department of Fisheries and Oceans to develop a watershed restoration strategy that:
– Identifies and prioritizes fish habitat improvements;
– Considers potential impacts associated with climate change (see Section 4.1); and
– Contains commitments to fund implementation.
Establish a Tribal Park here and work with the British Columbia government to have the park formally recognized with protections from future resource development (e.g. no new logging).
Develop infrastructure for an instream food fishery (e.g. a weirs, cabins, smokehouses) once sockeye salmon stocks have recovered.
Conservation activities here will not unduly or negatively impact another area. The actions must cause a net reduction in destructive actions, rather than relocating such practices elsewhere.