User:Sarah.x.g/sandbox

This is where I will draft my sections on the conflicts with indigenous and non-indigenous peoples in the creation of National Parks in Canada.

The initial ideal of National Parks was one of uninhabited wilderness. Creating this required the displacement of indigenous and non-indigenous residents who lived within intended park boundaries, and restrictions on the way these residents had previously used the land and resources within parks for subsistence.

Jasper Park, established in 1907, restricted the hunting and other income-generating and culturally valuable activities of the aboriginal groups who had used the region. (335) Jasper is a large park in a southern, frequently visited portion of Canada, and one of many parks geared towards tourism more than preservation. (337) Most parks are designed to have both the appeal of uninhabited wilderness and have amenities and roads to facilitate visitors. (274) Human activity within the park was allowed, but primarily activities which generated revenue, such as snowboarding and lodging for tourists. (338, 343) Some have claimed that the selection which activities to allow had a non-native bias, as it precluded traditional sources of subsistence such as hunting and trapping. (338)

Parks in less frequently visited, northern parts of Canada were created with more consideration of aboriginal usage. Kluane National Park in the Yukon did have initial restrictions on hunting in order to preserve the presence of wildlife in the park, as did Ivvavik National Park in the Northern Yukon. Through grassroots organizations and political lobbying, indigenous residents of these areas were able to have greater influence over the process of park creation. For both Kluane and Ivvavik parks, indigenous organizations protested and testified to Parliamentary Committees, describing how these restrictions infringed on their ability to provide for themselves through traditional fishing, hunting, and trapping. (245-247, 281). Ivvavik National Park, established in 1984,(278) was the first in Canada to be created through a comprehensive land claim settlement, and set a precedent for collaboration and co-management in future parks. (275). In June 1984, the Inuvialuit Final Agreement was signed, which deviated from past parks by committing to a more extensive inclusion of aboriginal interests and gave the Inuvialuit exclusive rights to hunting and harvesting game within the park. This agreement was an example of and the beginning of co-management, which ensured indigenous voices would be heard and given equal representatives on parks boards. (292)

Non-indigenous groups were also dispossessed from their land during the creation of National Parks, such as the Acadians of Kouchibouguac National Park in New Brunswick. This park was created in 1969, and included recognition of the aboriginal groups which had once resided there, but no recognition of the Acadians who comprised approximately 85 percent of the over 1,500 people who were displaced to create the park. (206, 207, 211). Many inhabits dispossessed of their land by Parks Canada resisted, and the Acadian residents’ resistance of eviction was extensive enough to delay the official opening of the park until 1979. (205) Through protest and civil disobedience, they successfully won greater compensation from the government to address the loss of fishing within the park which had previously been their main source of income. (212, 214). The resistance of the Acadians impacted future park creation, as in 1979 Parks Canada announced that it would no longer use forced relocation in new parks. (216) An advisory committee was created by Parks Canada in 2008 to reflect on the Kouchibouguac process and address outstanding grievances. (225)

from Claire Campbell, ed. A Century of Parks Canada,1911-2011. Calgary: University of Calgary Press, 2011: “Rejuvenating Wilderness: The Challenge of Reintegrating Aboriginal Peoples into the “Playground” of Jasper National Park” – I.S. MacLaren – 333-370

“Kluane National Park Reserve, 1923-1974: Modernity and Pluralism” – David Neufeld – 235-272

“Negotiating a Partnership of Interests: Inuvialuit Land Claims and the Establishment of Northern Yukon (Ivvavik) National Park” – Brad Martin – 273-301

“Kouchibouguac: Representations of a Park in Acadian Popular Culture” – Ronald Rudin – 205-233

=Comments= This looks good Sarah! Here are just a few minor edits:

I would say "Creating this 'setting'..."

First sentence uses 'within' twice

'As well as amenities' and roads to facilitate..

--KristinaBlair (talk), 10:54, 26 March 2012 (UTC)

I agree, this is really good! I am glad you were able to consolidate all your information into a concise article.--Wongkat (talk) 16:38, 27 March 2012 (UTC)