Aboriginal peoples, Parks Canada, and protected spaces: a case study in co-management at Gwaii Haanas National Park Reserve

Abstract

Effectively preserving protected areas often requires good-working relationships between Aboriginal groups and government agencies. However, many of these associations have been poorly managed in the past, with some even resulting in the expulsion of indigenous peoples and the destruction of their villages. A co-management agreement may improve conditions, but this is no guarantee of success either; these are complex arrangements bringing together very diverse views on the management of a protected area. One group intimately involved with such accords is the Parks Canada Agency; the federal government department that is responsible for the establishment and management of nationally protected spaces in Canada. While Parks Canada has not always consulted nor considered Aboriginal groups in the past when managing conservation areas, there are signs of change in this government agency. This research looks at one positive relationship between Parks Canada and the Haida people in the operation of Gwaii Haanas National Park Reserve (NPR) on Canada's northwest coast. This arrangement is looked at through the lens of guidelines set out by the IUCN. The IUCN, as a global environmental agency sponsored by UNESCO, has developed guidelines to assist Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal groups to work together for the establishment and management of protected spaces. With limited research on co-management agreements though, it is unclear how well these guidelines work when applied to actual conservation areas. While not perfect, Gwaii Haanas NPR provides a valuable case study on co-management agreements, key success factors for these relationships, and hope that more of these arrangements will be implemented in the future.