Introduction

1.0 introduction

The Hupacasath stated during a Treaty Main Table session on May 1, 1998; “We as a First Nation in our territory, know the balance of all life cycles, how they affect one another, and how to keep harmony and balance. We know how the environment used to be and we can recover and restore our territory’s natural resources to what they once were. Our interest in the natural resources is not driven by economics, but by resource sustainability for all people of the lands. To be First Nations is to be part of the land, water, air and to respect it."

"We will give back to mother earth the respect and sanctity she rightfully deserves. We will make our lands, waters and air inviolable. We will spiritually cleanse the lands that have already been violated. We will take back our place as the rightful caretakers of our territory and far exceed the provincial and federal standards, for they are lax and inefficient."

Former Chief Judith Sayers stated in 2003, “This statement is as true today as it was five years ago. This Hupacasath Land Use Plan is our statement of how we will implement what was so wisely stated in May of 1998 and by our elders in years past.”

1.1 Purpose of the Hupacasath Land Use Plan

The Hupacasath Land Use Plan is a strategic higher level plan that defines the Hupacasath First Nation’s land and forest values and management objectives at the territorial level. The plan defines Hupacasath cultural and resource values for 29 Hupacasath Use Areas (28 land based areas and 1 marine based area), which are defined by one of the following three designations, which are shown on the map at the end of the Plan:

1. Protection from industrial development such as timber harvesting, mining, large scale tourism, hydro development or urbanization
2. Resource Development, which means timber harvesting, mining, tourism and other development can take place while respecting Hupacasath rights and title
3. Special Management, which means resource development can occur but there are special cultural or environmental features that take precedent over development

Figure 1: hupacasath territory

1.1 Purpose of the Hupacasath Land Use Plan

The Hupacasath Land Use Plan will give guidance to “lower” level plans including, but not limited to: Forest Development Plans, Timber Supply Reviews, mine, water use, tourism development plans and potential Non-Timber Forest Products plans. It will also provide important information for land claims and treaty negotiations.

The overall purpose of the Hupacasath Land Use Plan (the Plan) is to enable the Hupacasath people to exert their rightful ownership and control over the lands and resources within their territory. The Plan will inform the federal, provincial and local governments, forest companies, other resource users including tourist operators and third parties as to how the Hupacasath will manage their lands and resources. Implementation of the Plan is not seen as a unilateral process. The Hupacasath will implement the Plan with others who are willing to share their vision and enter into agreements as to how lands and resources will be planned, managed and used. The Plan is organized in the following sections to inform others as to how the Hupacasath will manage their lands and resources.

PART A BACKGROUND

Provides background material to show where the Hupacasath people live and how they own and use their land and natural resources.

PART B THE PLAN

Provides a Vision for how the Hupacasath people will manage their land and resources, defines the resource values, and zones the territory into Hupacasath Use Areas designated as “Protected”, “Special Management” or “Resource Development”. A list of the Hupacasath Use Areas and designations is found in Figure 2 on page 4.

PART C IMPLEMENTING THE PLAN

States how the Plan will be implemented with governments and other resource users through Co-Management Agreements and states how the Plan will be revised in the future.

PART D ADOPTING THE PLAN

The Plan will be adopted by the Hupacasath including community members, Council and elders. It will be signed by the elected Council.

1.2 Qualification of Hupacasath Land Use Plan

The Hupacasath Land Use Plan is not intended to be a comprehensive statement or definition of Hupacasath aboriginal rights and title.

This Land Use Plan is without prejudice to the positions that may be taken by the Hupacasath with regard to their rights and title in future negotiations, land claims or other claims.

Figure 2: Hupacasath Use Areas and Designations