<< News >> Conflict alert for ancient sites in Vancouver, Canada
Submitted by coldrum on Thursday, 03 April 2008 Page Views: 7268
Pre-ContactCountry: Canada Without a radical shift in thinking about first nations archaeology, B.C. is in danger of losing what is left of its ancient heritage and sparking heated conflict with natives, according to PhD candidate Michael Klassen. Virtually all of the first nations' 9,000-year-old footprint in southwestern B.C. has been eradicated by development he reports.Most of it has been destroyed lot by lot, because each property taken alone may not register as scientifically significant. "But when you look at it cumulatively, it is nearly all being wiped out," Klassen said.
And what is left, natives will not let go easily, he warned. Fuelled by a series of legal decisions and legislative changes in the 1990s, first nations have realized the archaeological record is essential to their claim on any territory in B.C.
Tens of thousands of archaeological sites in Metro Vancouver, Greater Victoria and the Gulf Islands have already been destroyed by urban growth and waterfront development. An entire industry of archaeological consulting has grown up in B.C. over the past 15 years, mainly focussed on examining sites in the process of being destroyed by backhoes.
But only in the past two years has the provincial government begun to negotiate management agreements with first nations that allow them some control over development on significant heritage sites. Such an agreement is currently being negotiated for south Vancouver's Marpole Midden.
"Archaeology is an important aspect in asserting title and rights," Klassen said. "The danger of not thinking ahead on the way we plan communities is more conflict.... As first nations grow in authority and experience, they are going to start using the growing legal arsenal at their disposal to fight to loss of their heritage."
It has already started. In 2003, the Hul'qumi'num Treaty Group forced the provincial government to charge and convict a land developer under the Heritage Conservation Act, Klassen said.
"That's going to happen more and more," he said.
Read more in the Vancouver Sun.
We would like to know more about this location. Please feel free to add a brief description and any relevant information in your own language.
Wir möchten mehr über diese Stätte erfahren. Bitte zögern Sie nicht, eine kurze Beschreibung und relevante Informationen in Deutsch hinzuzufügen.
Nous aimerions en savoir encore un peu sur les lieux. S'il vous plaît n'hesitez pas à ajouter une courte description et tous les renseignements pertinents dans votre propre langue.
Quisieramos informarnos un poco más de las lugares. No dude en añadir una breve descripción y otros datos relevantes en su propio idioma.