CHAPTER 24 –
PROVINCIAL PROTECTED AREAS

24.1.0  GENERAL
24.2.0  POWER RIVER WATERSHED PROTECTED AREA
24.3.0  THUNDERBIRD'S NEST (T'IITSK'IN PAAWATS) PROTECTED AREA
24.4.0  QUIN-E-EX LANDS
24.5.0  PUBLIC PLANNING PROCESSES
24.6.0  GATHERING
  Trade and Barter
  Law-making
  Documentation
24.7.0  EXPROPRIATION OF MAA‑NULTH FIRST NATION LANDS FOR PROVINCIAL PROTECTED AREA PURPOSES

24.1.0  GENERAL

24.1.1  Each Maa‑nulth First Nation may make proposals to British Columbia from time to time to establish new Provincial Protected Areas within its Maa‑nulth First Nation Area.

24.1.2  Subject to 24.2.1 and 24.3.1, nothing in this Agreement obligates British Columbia to establish a new Provincial Protected Area or maintain the designation of any Provincial Protected Areas.

24.1.3  British Columbia will Consult with a Maa‑nulth First Nation regarding the creation of new Provincial Protected Areas in its Maa‑nulth First Nation Area.

24.1.4  British Columbia and Ka:'yu:'k't'h'/Che:k'tles7et'h' First Nations will negotiate and attempt to reach agreement regarding arrangements for Ka:'yu:'k't'h'/Che:k'tles7et'h' First Nations' participation in the management planning of Artlish Caves Provincial Park, Big Bunsby Marine Provincial Park, Brooks Peninsula Provincial Park, Dixie Cove Marine Provincial Park, Rugged Point Marine Provincial Park, Tahsish-Kwois Provincial Park, Checleset Bay Ecological Reserve, Clanninick Creek Ecological Reserve, Solander Island Ecological Reserve, Tahsish River Ecological Reserve, and Power River Watershed Protected Area.

24.1.5  British Columbia and Uchucklesaht Tribe will negotiate and attempt to reach agreement regarding arrangements for Uchucklesaht Tribe's participation in the management planning of Thunderbird's Nest (T'iitsk'in Paawats) Protected Area.

24.1.6  If British Columbia creates a new Provincial Protected Area within a Maa‑nulth First Nation Area, British Columbia and the applicable Maa‑nulth First Nation will negotiate and attempt to reach agreement regarding arrangements for that Maa‑nulth First Nation's participation in the management planning of that new Provincial Protected Area.

24.2.0  POWER RIVER WATERSHED PROTECTED AREA

24.2.1  On the Effective Date, British Columbia will establish the Power River Watershed Protected Area as a Provincial Protected Area.

24.2.2  Subject to 21.3.0, the Power River Watershed Protected Area is managed by British Columbia and, unless otherwise determined by British Columbia, has no road access.

24.2.3  For greater certainty, British Columbia's authority and responsibilities in respect of the Power River Watershed Protected Area will continue.

24.3.0  THUNDERBIRD'S NEST (T'IITSK'IN PAAWATS) PROTECTED AREA

24.3.1  On the Effective Date, British Columbia will establish Thunderbird's Nest (T'iitsk'in Paawats) Protected Area as a Provincial Protected Area.

24.3.2  Subject to 21.3.0, the Thunderbird's Nest (T'iitsk'in Paawats) Protected Area is managed by British Columbia as a Provincial Protected Area.

24.3.3  Unless Uchucklesaht Tribe and British Columbia otherwise agree, British Columbia will continue Thunderbird's Nest (T'iitsk'in Paawats) Protected Area as a Provincial Protected Area.

24.3.4  Notwithstanding 24.3.3, British Columbia may amend the boundaries of Thunderbird's Nest (T'iitsk'in Paawats) Protected Area from time to time provided the total area of Thunderbird's Nest (T'iitsk'in Paawats) Protected Area does not decrease by more than 100 hectares.

24.4.0  QUIN-E-EX LANDS

24.4.1  Immediately after the Effective Date, the estate in fee simple in the Quin-E-Ex Lands is transferred from Ka:'yu:'k't'h'/Che:k'tles7et'h' First Nations to British Columbia free and clear of all Interests, ownership of the estate in fee simple in the Quin‑E‑Ex Lands vests in British Columbia and the Quin‑E‑Ex Lands cease to be the Maa‑nulth First Nation Lands of Ka:'yu:'k't'h'/Che:k'tles7et'h' First Nations.

24.4.2  Upon the transfer of the Quin‑E‑Ex Lands to British Columbia in accordance with 24.4.1, Appendix B is deemed to be amended to reflect the removal of the Quin-E-Ex Lands from the Maa‑nulth First Nation Lands of Ka:'yu:'k't'h'/Che:k'tles7et'h' First Nations.

24.4.3  After the Effective Date British Columbia will amend the boundaries of Brooks Peninsula Provincial Park to add the Quin‑E‑Ex Lands to Brooks Peninsula Provincial Park.

24.5.0  PUBLIC PLANNING PROCESSES

24.5.1  A Maa‑nulth First Nation may participate in any public management planning process established in respect of any Provincial Protected Area that is wholly or partially within its Maa‑nulth First Nation Area, in accordance with procedures established by British Columbia for that public management planning processes.

24.5.2  British Columbia may proceed with any process contemplated by 24.5.1 even if the applicable Maa‑nulth First Nation does not participate in that process.

24.5.3  Nothing in this Agreement obligates British Columbia to undertake a public management planning process with respect to any Provincial Protected Area.

24.5.4  British Columbia will provide to a Maa‑nulth First Nation any draft public management plan that may be prepared for a Provincial Protected Area that is wholly or partially within its Maa‑nulth First Nation Area.

24.5.5  A Maa‑nulth First Nation receiving a draft public management plan in accordance with 24.5.4 may provide written recommendations to British Columbia in relation to such plan and any recommendations so received may be made public by British Columbia.

24.5.6  British Columbia will Consult with a Maa‑nulth First Nation in the preparation or modification of any management plan for a Provincial Protected Area wholly or partially within the Maa‑nulth First Nation Area of that Maa‑nulth First Nation in relation to:

a. the depiction, if appropriate, of Nuu‑chah‑nulth culture or heritage in the Provincial Protected Area; and

b. the importance of Nuu‑chah‑nulth culture and heritage to the purpose of the Provincial Protected Area.

24.6.0  GATHERING

24.6.1  Each Maa‑nulth First Nation has the right to gather Plants and the boughs, burls and roots of Timber for Domestic Purposes in Provincial Protected Areas wholly or partially within the Maa‑nulth First Nation Area of that Maa‑nulth First Nation.

24.6.2  Each Maa‑nulth First Nation Right to Gather Plants is limited by measures necessary for conservation, public health or public safety.

24.6.3  A Maa‑nulth First Nation may not Dispose of its Maa‑nulth First Nation Right to Gather Plants.

24.6.4  A Maa‑nulth First Nation Right to Gather Plants may be exercised by every Maa‑nulth‑aht of that Maa‑nulth First Nation except as otherwise provided under a law of the applicable Maa‑nulth First Nation Government.

24.6.5  British Columbia may authorize uses of, or Dispose of, Provincial Protected Areas and any authorized use or Disposition may affect the methods, times and locations of the gathering of Plants and the boughs, burls and roots of Timber under this Agreement, provided that British Columbia ensures that those authorized uses or Dispositions do not deny a Maa‑nulth First Nation the reasonable opportunity to gather Plants and the boughs, burls and roots of Timber under its Maa‑nulth First Nation Right to Gather Plants.

24.6.6  The Minister may, for conservation, public health or public safety reasons, require the applicable Maa‑nulth First Nation to prepare a Gathering Plan.

24.6.7  If the Minister requires a Gathering Plan in accordance with 24.6.6, that Gathering Plan will include:

a. gathering locations;

b. times of gathering; and

c. the Plant species, boughs, burls or roots of Timber intended to be gathered.

24.6.8  A Gathering Plan prepared in accordance with 24.6.7 will be submitted by that Maa‑nulth First Nation to the Minister for approval.

24.6.9  That Maa‑nulth First Nation will exercise its Maa‑nulth First Nation Right to Gather Plants in accordance with any approved Gathering Plan or Provincial Protected Area management plan.

24.6.10  No Maa‑nulth‑aht is required to have any federal or provincial licence or pay any fee or royalty to Canada or British Columbia relating to the exercise of a Maa‑nulth First Nation Right to Gather Plants.

Trade and Barter

24.6.11  Each Maa‑nulth First Nation has the right to Trade and Barter Plants and the boughs, burls and roots of Timber gathered under its Maa‑nulth First Nation Right to Gather Plants, among themselves or with other aboriginal people of Canada resident in British Columbia.

24.6.12  A Maa‑nulth First Nation right to Trade and Barter described in 24.6.11 may be exercised by a Maa‑nulth‑aht of that Maa‑nulth First Nation, except as otherwise provided in a Maa‑nulth First Nation Law of the applicable Maa‑nulth First Nation Government made under 24.6.14d.

24.6.13  A Maa‑nulth First Nation may not Dispose of its right to Trade and Barter described in 24.6.11.

Law-making

24.6.14  Each Maa‑nulth First Nation Government may make laws in respect of the applicable Maa‑nulth First Nation Right to Gather Plants for:

a. the distribution of gathered Plants, boughs, burls or roots of Timber among the Maa‑nulth‑aht of the applicable Maa‑nulth First Nation;

b. designating the Maa‑nulth‑aht of that Maa‑nulth First Nation to gather Plants, boughs, burls or roots of Timber;

c. documenting the Maa‑nulth‑aht of that Maa‑nulth First Nation who have been designated; and

d. Trade and Barter of the Plants, boughs, burls or roots of Timber gathered by the Maa‑nulth‑aht of that Maa‑nulth First Nation.

24.6.15  Maa‑nulth First Nation Law under 24.6.14a., 24.6.14b. or 24.6.14d. prevails to the extent of a Conflict with Federal Law or Provincial Law.

24.6.16  Federal Law or Provincial Law prevails to the extent of a Conflict with Maa‑nulth First Nation Law made under 24.6.14c.

Documentation

24.6.17  Each Maa‑nulth First Nation Government will issue documentation to the Maa‑nulth‑aht of that Maa‑nulth First Nation who gather or attempt to gather Plants, or the boughs, burls or roots of Timber under its Maa‑nulth First Nation Right to Gather Plants.

24.6.18  A Maa‑nulth‑aht who gathers or attempts to gather Plants or the boughs, burls or roots of Timber under a Maa‑nulth First Nation Right to Gather Plants is required to carry documentation issued by the Maa‑nulth First Nation Government of the applicable Maa‑nulth First Nation and to produce that documentation on request by an authorized individual.

24.6.19  Documentation issued by a Maa‑nulth First Nation Government in accordance with 24.6.16 will:

a. be in the English language, which version is authoritative, and at the discretion of that Maa‑nulth First Nation Government, in the Nuu‑chah‑nulth language;

b. include the name and address of the Maa‑nulth‑aht; and

c. meet any other requirements to which the Maa‑nulth First Nation Government and British Columbia may agree.

24.7.0  EXPROPRIATION OF MAA‑NULTH FIRST NATION LANDS FOR PROVINCIAL PROTECTED AREA PURPOSES

24.7.1  Notwithstanding 2.11.2, British Columbia will not acquire any Interest in Maa‑nulth First Nation Lands by expropriation for the purpose of enlarging an existing Provincial Protected Area or establishing a new Provincial Protected Area.

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