Connecting Past and Present
July 7, 2024 By: Heather Prohaska
Parks
https://vancouversun.com/news/local-news/bc-joffre-lakes-park-closure-dates
My perspective on parks changed when I read Unit 3, Topic 2, The Parks Movement. Once again, learning about what happened in history is disturbing. First Nation peoples were pushed off the land so paying tourists could visit nature. The article above talks about how Joffre Park now works closely with the local Nations, N’quatqua and Lil’wat, allowing their people time in the mountains to rekindle knowledge for the youth and harvest things like herbs for medicine and mushrooms during peak times. The park is closed for portions of the summer to allow this to happen. I fully support this idea and am pleased to see the government and these Nations working together. If tourists cannot find another trail to go hike, there is something wrong; the area is full of hiking options.
“BC Joffre Lakes Park Closure Dates.” Vancouver Sun, accessed July 7, 2024. https://vancouversun.com/news/local-news/bc-joffre-lakes-park-closure-dates.
Urbanization
https://vancouver.citynews.ca/2023/06/22/pushback-15-minute-neighbourhoods/
An article by Mike Lloyd on CityNews Everywhere discusses the idea of 15-minute neighbourhoods and why people might oppose them. It outlines how people push back on these ideas when they are not part of the initial conversation. Society has run for decades, with the car being the central component of getting around. People do not like change, so something that uproots the entire way people live is hard to accept, even if it makes complete sense for the environment and affordability. Civilization is constantly changing, as discussed in Unit 3. Going from a horse-driven city to one with cars was a significant change. People made it through with all different opinions. What is worse, a bunch of horse manure or exhaust from vehicles? Each has its benefits and drawbacks, the same as 15-minute cities. Maybe, over time, the benefits will encourage people to transition to this green option. I think 15-minute neighbourhoods are an ideal way to approach life. Less time spent commuting in a car, on a bus, or biking allows more time for other activities. If I lived in a city, it is the way I would want to live.
“BC Joffre Lakes Park Closure Dates.” Vancouver Sun, accessed July 7, 2024. https://vancouversun.com/news/local-news/bc-joffre-lakes-park-closure-dates.
I do agree with you, I was surprised about the history of parks and the injustices of indigenous peoples who lived within the lands that became parks. The fact that Joffre Park is working with indigenous peoples is a really good thing.
As for the other article, I agree that 15 minute cities are a must even though as you mention, some people will not accept it. 15 minute cities while dense can be helpful with green transit, less pollution from cars and if it is developed correctly, people won’t have to leave their city unless for a specific thing their city still does not offer. I lived in West Cairo which was recently developed and I can say that I rarely go to Downtown Cairo anymore, so from my perspective, 15 minute cities work.
Hi there,
Like most government-owned land, it seems like there is a past tainted with colonization, driven by economic opportunity or recreation. As someone who is technically a settler, and who likes to enjoy these wildlands, it is hard to reconcile or feel right about sometimes. In this case, it is good to hear they made progress in coming to a resolution, allowing temporary closures to collect traditional medicines, etc. I don’t think the answer is to restrict access to all land but to an agreement where specific areas can be used for specific uses at designated times; where traditional ecological knowledge and cultural practices are considered, just as much as economic or recreational value are considered.