Enderby Cliffs Park will be renamed to ‘recognize Indigenous connections’

Legislation introduced in Victoria today will lead to a name change for two provincial parks and the expansion of three others.

Three of the affected parks are in the BC Interior, including Enderby Cliffs Park near Salmon Arm.

Through proposed amendments to the Protected Areas of British Columbia Act, the popular recreation area will be renamed Tplaqín/Enderby Cliffs Park.

“Tplaqín (pronounced T-bla-qeen) means cliff in Interior Salish,” explained a release from the Province.

Also being renamed is Maquinna Marine Park near Tofino.

It will now be called Nism̓aakqin Park (pronounced nis-mock-kin), which means "our land that we care for" in Nuu-chah-nulth

"Indigenous people have been stewards of the water, land and wildlife for millennia," said Tamara Davidson, minister of environment and parks.

"Renaming these parks to traditional Indigenous names recognizes significant cultural values and supports ongoing reconciliation with First Nations.”

The legislation also proposes the addition of approximately 143 hectares to three provincial parks:

• Wells Gray Park (near Clearwater): 33 hectares of land to protect wetland and forest that is surrounded by the existing park on three sides.
• Cinnemousun Narrows (near Sicamous): three hectares of land and three hectares of adjacent lake shore.
• Naikoon Park (Haida Gwaii): 104 hectares of land that is already surrounded by the existing park. The land will provide further protection of wildlife habitat.

“Expanding BC's parks and protected-areas system enhances protection of important ecological, recreational, cultural and historical values that make these places special,” noted Davidson.

As part of the legislation’s amendments, Kilby Park near Harrison Mills will be formally transferred to the Province’s Heritage Branch, which has managed the park and adjacent heritage site since 2003.

They will also remove one hectare from Naikoon Park to allow the expansion of a neighbouring cemetery.