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Human Activity
For thousands of years prior to Widgeon Valley becoming protected, the Katzie First Nations occupied the area. The Katzie people used the Widgeon Valley Wildlife Area to fish for freshwater fish, to hunt small animals and waterfowl, to gather cedar bark, and even used the slough banks to cultivate wild cranberries and wapato. Widgeon Valley was used for ceremonial purposes by the Katzie First Nation, Kwikwetlem First Nation, Stó:l– o First Nation, Tsawwassen First Nation, Soowahlie First Nation, Shxw’ow’hamel First Nation, Skawahlook First Nation, and The Seabird Island Band. Ethnographers have discovered at least one ancient Katzie village within the wildlife area.

In 1940, two logging companies sold the land that would become The Widgeon Valley National Wildlife Area to the Burnett family. The Burnett family later sold the land to The Nature Trust of British Columbia in 1973, who later that year leased the land for 99 years to Environment and Climate Change Canada for conservation purposes. These areas are established to protect sensitive species and species at risk. The Widgeon Valley National Wildlife Area would become part of a larger complex of wildlife areas set within the largest natural freshwater marsh in Southwestern British Columbia.

Nowadays, the channels through the Widgeon Valley National Wildlife Area receive a lot of traffic as they are open to the public. Canoes and other non-motorized floatation devices are permitted in the channels and many people use the channels to reach Widgeon Creek campsite in Pinecone Burke Provincial Park. A nearby canoe rental operation rents-out up to 60 canoes a day. The most recreational use of the Widgeon Valley channels happens mid-Fall through to early Spring as the waterfowl population within the channels is at its highest. However, many people exit their canoes to explore and to picnic in the wildlife area which becomes potentially harmful to the protected area. Most of the conservation efforts within the Widgeon Valley National Wildlife Area go towards putting up signs along the channels banks to deter people from entering the protected wildlife areas. Plans approved in 2019 by the Metro Vancouver Regional District include opening the Widgeon Valley National Wildlife Area to the public. The future plans involve the development of numerous trails, day-use areas, facilities, interpretive signage, a canoe launch, and canoe tie-offs along the channel. These developments will cover roughly 6% of the Widgeon Valley National Wildlife Area. Consultation and planning will be done with the Katzie First Nation as well as numerous other local First Nations that historically used the area. Interpretive signage along the trails through the Widgeon Valley National Wildlife Area will provide information to the public about the natural and cultural history of the area. With the exception of hunting, The Katzie First Nation and other local First Nations will once again be able to use the land traditionally.

Gebauer, Martin. (2020). "Desktop Assessment of Species at Risk Occurrence at the Widgeon Valley National Wildlife Area, British Columbia". Environment Canada. https://www.researchgate.net/publication/345691862_Desktop_Assessment_of_Species_at_Risk_Occurrence_at_the_Widgeon_Valley_National_Wildlife_Area_British_Columbia. Accessed October 7, 2022.

Environment and Climate Change Canada. (2019). "Widgeon Valley National Wildlife Area Management Plan". Environment and Climate Change Canada, Canadian Wildlife Service, Pacific and Yukon Region. https://publications.gc.ca/collections/collection_2019/eccc/CW66-587-2019-eng.pdf. Accessed October 7, 2022.

Jantzen, Roy. (2015). "A Year-Round Guide to Outdoor Recreation in the City's Natural Environments". Active Vancouver. https://viewer.canadacommons.ca/artifacts/1877287/active-vancouver/2626320/view/?token=gAAAAABjQKxmhrYgXQfaRkh5AgRc7x86EFBw_2A3Wn6eHEhL8Oejon9QiTG3EZayDxCvXcrrgVQWyORYxviYj26lklS8WBZzi-2zj6mdWfdwXbB_IRqYA5DLcFlPcgo13fQvfv42RdrBCdgyonSJ0TIpPxrLaKb-zQ==. Accessed October 7, 2022.

Environment Canada. (2014). "Widgeon Valley National Wildlife Area". Canada. https://publications.gc.ca/collections/collection_2015/ec/CW66-361-2013-eng.pdf. Accessed October 7, 2022.

http://www.metrovancouver.org/services/parks/learn/projects-and-initiatives/widgeon-marsh-park-plan/Pages/default.aspx

http://www.metrovancouver.org/services/parks/ParksPublications/WidgeonMarshRP-MgmtPlan.pdf