To take care of, or protect Xáxli’p Territory
Our Indigenous Protected and Conserved Area (IPCA) will be called Szúhmin̓s ta Xaxli'púlmexwa which means "to take care of, or protect Xaxli'p Territory." Additionally, it will be referred to as the Xáxli'p Ecological and Cultural Protected Area.
A focus of the ECPA is to replace BC laws with Xáxli'p laws for governance of Xaxli'p Survival Territory. As this change occurs, the CFA will eventually be superseded by the ECPA.
Szúhmin̓s ta Xaxli'púlmexwa, the Xáxli'p Ecological and Cultural Protected Area, will be overseen by a working Group of Xaxli’p Experts, Knowledge Keepers and Elders, the Ntsuwa7lhkálha t’lákmen (our way of life) Traditional Use Study and the Xaxli’p Ecosystem Based Plan. Community information sessions and engagement will take place.
“We claim that we are the rightful owners of our tribal territory, and everything pertaining thereto. We have always lived in our country; at no time have we ever deserted it, or left it to others. We have retained it from the cost of our blood...” As stated in the Declaration of the Lillooet Tribe (1911)
Map
The Szúhmin’s ta Xaxli'púlmexwa Working Group aims for the Ecological and Cultural Protected Area (ECPA) to:
Protect land, medicines, animals, water and air for Ntsuwa7lhkálha T’lákmen (our way of life)
Eliminate harmful resource activities (i.e. unauthorized mining, cattle-grazing, and dirt biking in sensitive ecosystems)
Support knowledge transfer to next generations
Articulate indigenous law and Xáxli'p self determination
Support Eco-cultural Restoration
Support water and animal monitoring activities
Build communication & relationships
i skelkla7lhkálha (our ancestors)
“…the elders who have gone on they’re the ones who told us, ‘water is number one,’ so we must stick to it.”
-Tmicwus Roger Adolph
Frequently Asked Questions
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IPCA stands for Indigenous Protected and Conserved Area. IPCAs came from Canada Target 1 which is Canada’s goal to conserve 30% of land by 2030. IPCAs are a mechanism to help meet Canada Target 1 as it has been recognized that Indigenous communities do a far better job at preserving land than any governmental conservation program. See the following video for more information on IPCAs.
In the report, "We Rise Together" by the Indigenous Circle of Experts, the following expectations of IPCAs are:
1) IPCAs are Indigenous-led
2) IPCAs represent a long-term commitment to conservation, and
3) IPCAs elevate Indigenous Rights and Responsibilities.
We want to hear from you!
What do you want to see for the Xáxli’p Ecological and Cultural Protected Area?
What does Szúhmin̓s ta Xaxli'púlmexwa (to take care of, or protect Xáxli’p Territory) mean to you?
Anything else you would like to share with us?