Purpose of the Land Use Plan
To describe the community’s vision for the forests and wilderness…
The Land Use Plan describes the community’s vision for the future of the forests and wilderness of the traditional territory.
To protect and manage the forests and wilderness…
The Plan sets out how to achieve the community’s vision by protecting and managing the Nation’s land for the benefit of present and future generations.
A snapshot of what’s in the Draft Plan
A Community Vision of the land and how to care for it (See part 3 below for detail)
Based on interviews of members of the community, the plan identifies the values and uses of the land that members care deeply about, and their land management priorities.
Four types of Land Use Zones (See parts 4, 5 and 6, below for more detail)
Maps divide the forest and wilderness of the territory into “zones” to be managed for the uses or values that the community has identified as important. Each zone has its own management priorities.
Forest Stewardship Zone:
- Managed for many uses such as cultural uses, forestry, hunting, tourism, outdoor education etc.
- Includes most of the traditional territory
- 2 areas within the Forest Stewardship Zone
- Areas where special care has to be taken to protect wildlife and cultural value
- 2 areas within the Forest Stewardship Zone
- Need efforts to restore natural values that have been compromised by logging and other development
Kwa kwayx welh-aynexws
(Wild Spirit Places):
- 5 areas that should be managed to retain their wilderness values and for the cultural and for cultural and spiritual use
- There should be no industrial development in these areas
Economic Development Priorities (See part 7 below)
The plan emphasizes the need for more training and meaningful employment opportunities for Squamish Nation members, especially from forestry and tourism.
Values and uses of the land that members care deeply about…
Values and uses of the forest and wilderness of the Squamish traditional territory that community members care deeply about include:
- secluded places for traditional cultural practices (e.g., storing regalia, vision quests);
- wildlife and wildlife habitat, especially mountain goats, grizzly bears, and animals for food such as moose and deer;
- fish for fishing, and healthy rivers and streams;
- clean air, and clean water for drinking, for the ecosystem and for ritual bathing;
- resources from which Squamish members can earn a living, such as forestry and tourism; and,
- places to heal, recover and re-connect with the land.
The most important priorities in managing the forest and wilderness of the Squamish traditional territory include:
- protecting the rights and interests of the Squamish people;
- sustaining the traditional territory for our children’s children – seven generations;
- planning ahead instead of always reacting to problems and conflicts;
- protecting heritage, traditional use, sacred and cultural sites;
- protecting old growth forests;
- providing opportunities for hunting, fishing and gathering;
- repairing damage to the land and water, and reducing soil, water and air pollution;
- getting Squamish Nation members into the traditional territory for health, education, recreation, spiritual and cultural purposes, including camps for children and youth;
- regulating tourism, and minimizing impacts of tourism and recreation, while increasing benefits to Squamish members (e.g., as guides in ecotourism); and,
- getting Squamish members more involved in resource management.
Forest Stewardship Zone
The Forest Stewardship Zone is all the forested areas within the traditional territory, outside of settlement areas, existing Parks and Wild Spirit Places(described below). The Draft Land Use Plan describes what the community wants to happen in this Zone. A wide range of values and uses need to be protected and managed.
Values and uses to manage and protect in the forest stewardship zone…
- Cultural and Heritage Values
- Plants for Food and other uses
- Fish, Aquatic Habitat and Fishing
- Hunting, Trapping and Guide Outfitting
- Recreation and Tourism
- Water, Air and Soil Resources
- Access Management
- Outdoor Education and Land-based knowledge
Sensitive Areas and Restoration Areas
Taking special care in Sensitive Areas…
The Plan identifies Sensitive Areas within the Forest Stewardship Zone where relatively large areas of old-growth forests remain and important cultural and natural values are found. Special care must be taken to ensure that the wildlife and cultural values of these areas are not compromised through further logging or other development.
Identified Sensitive Areas…
Two Sensitive Areas are identified in the draft Land Use Plan:
- Lower Elaho River Sensitive Area
- Callaghan Lake/Upper Soo River Sensitive Area.
Restoring the damage from development in Restoration Areas…
Restoration areas are those areas within the Forest Stewardship Zone where a lot of logging or other development has occurred in the recent past such that large areas are now young forests. These places will require special efforts to restore the natural and cultural values that have been degraded by past logging, mining and road building.
Identified Restoration Areas…
Two Restoration Areas are identified in the draft Land Use Plan:
- Mamquam River Restoration Area
- Ashlu River Restoration Area. Additional, smaller areas that need restoration include Brohm Ridge, the chemical plant site in downtown Squamish, along the Cheakamus River, Cheekye and Brackendale, Jimmy Jimmy Slough, Evans Creek (and Evans Lake Camp), Little Stamis Creek, Stawish (base of the Chief), and historic grave sites and villages.
Kwa kwayx welh-aynexws (Wild Spirit Places)
Wilderness and cultural values of Kwa Kwayx welh-aynexws…
The “Wild Spirit Places” are important natural areas that should be managed to retain their wilderness attributes and to provide places for spiritual and cultural renewal for the Squamish Nation. WSPs would be managed by the Squamish Nation.
Identified Kwa kwayx welh-aynexws…
The five proposed Wild Spirit Places in the draft Land Use Plan are:
- Nsiiwx-nitem tl’a sutich
Other Important Areas…
In addition to the five larger Wild Spirit Places, there are many smaller but equally important natural or cultural areas, some of which have been identified through this land use planning process. They include: Bains Island (Brackendale); Cheekye (the forested areas around IR11); bathing sites of the Siyone people, and adjacent areas; burial sites, and old village sites; canoe landing sites on Howe Sound Islands; Potlatch Creek, on the west side of Howe Sound; and traditional fishing areas.
More research and community consultation is required to identify all of these important sites and determine the protection needed. Due to the sensitivity of the information on these smaller areas, they may not be mapped or described in detail in this plan even when identified.
Jobs and training are critical…
Jobs and economic development opportunities are a very important part of the Land Use Plan. The Plan acknowledges that.