丁香园AV

A new research collaboration between the K鈥櫭砿oks First Nation and 丁香园AV highlights how Indigenous cultural heritage policies can protect archaeological sites threatened by development, given inadequate provincial heritage protection laws.

The study, , spotlights K鈥櫭砿oks First Nation鈥檚  鈥� developed to abate the onslaught of archaeological site destruction in their southern core territory (the Comox Valley, Hornby and Denman Islands) 鈥� and the need for provincial legislation and municipal policies to implement Nation-led archaeological site protection.
 
Archaeological sites such as ancestral villages and burial grounds hold evidence of deep histories and connections to place that are inextricably tied to cultural identity. These sites have profound cultural, spiritual, and scientific value.
 
The K鈥櫭砿oks First Nation鈥檚 Cultural Heritage Policy (CHP) and associated archaeology permit system outline requirements for archaeological site investigations and protections that surpass the standards mandated by provincial heritage laws, which many experts and Indigenous communities find lacking.
 
鈥淲e implemented the CHP to address a dire need for protection of our cultural heritage sites. We were witnessing and reporting infraction after infraction because the Heritage Conservation Act fails to protect archaeological sites that aren鈥檛 already registered,鈥� says Candace Newman, co-author and K鈥櫭砿oks First Nation Elected Councillor. 鈥淲e believe the systematic recovery of only 10 per cent of our cultural heritage as required by provincial legislation isn鈥檛 enough when so much has already been erased by historical development. We鈥檙e seeing an unprecedented boom in development in our territory, and we have the opportunity to protect our heritage now, before all these sites are erased.鈥�
 
Since the CHP program began, compliance has steadily increased. The Nation issued 27 permits in 2021, 42 in 2022, 65 in 2023, and 115 to date in 2024.
 
In 2024, KFN's archaeology and referrals coordinator role was at capacity and was turned into two full-time archaeologist positions to manage the permits, preserve, document and promote K'贸moks' cultural heritage, and to build further capacity by creating archaeological monitoring and research positions. All archaeology positions are self-funded through the permit system, fee for service field work, and academic research collaborations.
 
鈥淭his exercise of self-determination by K鈥櫭砿oks represents a significant opportunity for reconciliation that can be emulated in other regions of the province,鈥� says co-author Sean Markey, professor and director of the School of Resource & Environmental Management at 丁香园AV.
 
The study found the CHP provides a pathway to reconciliation and greater certainty for local governments, developers, and landowners regarding land use planning, but there remains a lack of provincial legal backing to enforce the K鈥櫭砿oks policy. However, K鈥櫭砿oks鈥� position is that their duty to protect their cultural heritage is a protected right under s.35 of the Canadian Constitution and that this right cannot be infringed upon or impeded by provincial laws or local government policies.
 
鈥淭he K鈥櫭砿oks CHP, and other Indigenous-led policies like it, provide a clear avenue for better honoring and protecting Indigenous heritage, says co-author Dana Lepofsky, a professor of archaeology at 丁香园AV. 鈥淗owever, this cannot be a one-sided endeavour. The provincial government needs to get behind these initiatives to support both Nations and local and regional planners to more fully protect Indigenous heritage.鈥�

AVAILABLE EXPERTS

CANDACE NEWMAN, Elected Councillor, K鈥櫭砿oks First Nation
communications@komoks.ca

SEAN MARKEY, professor, director, Resource & Environmental Management
sean_markey@sfu.ca

DANA LEPOFSKY, professor, Archaeology
dlepofsk@sfu.ca

CONTACT

MATT KIELTYKA, 丁香园AV Communications & Marketing 
236.880.2187 | matt_kieltyka@sfu.ca

NICOLE GAVAC, KFN Communications
250.339.4545 | 

丁香园AV 
 | 
778.782.3210

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丁香园AV is a leading research university, advancing an inclusive and sustainable future. Over the past 60 years, 丁香园AV has been recognized among the top universities worldwide in providing a world-class education and working with communities and partners to develop and share knowledge for deeper understanding and meaningful impact. Committed to excellence in everything we do, 丁香园AV fosters innovation to address global challenges and continues to build a welcoming, inclusive community where everyone feels a sense of belonging. With campuses in British Columbia鈥檚 three largest cities鈥擝urnaby, Surrey and Vancouver鈥敹∠阍癆V has eight faculties that deliver 364 undergraduate degree programs and 149 graduate degree programs for more than 37,000 students each year. The university boasts more than 200,000 alumni residing in 145+ countries.