Island park receives a royal name

An agreement was reached July 13 between British Columbia and the Che:k'tles7et'h' Nation to rename Brooks Peninsula Provincial Park, providing it with a dual name that celebrates the historic ownership of the land by the Che:k'tles7et'h' people.
"This agreement is intended to foster a strong foundation for the collaborative management of all of the parks and protected areas within the traditional territories of the Che:k'tles7et'h' peoples," said B.C.'s Environment Minister Barry Penner. "It provides certainty, acknowledgement, and recognition of the local First Nation and the connection they have to these special areas."
It is hoped that the official recognition of the Che:k'tles7et'h' will lead to greater involvement in the planning for park use and their potential to create economic wealth from within the park borders.
The new park name is Muqin/ Brooks Peninsula Provincial Park. The word Muqin means "The Queen" in the Nuu-chah-nulth language, and was the name of the current Che:k'tles7et'h' head chief's mother. The renaming ceremony fell on the date of her birthday.
New park signs incorporating the language and cultural symbols of the Che:k'tles7et'h' Nation will be displayed within the park. The park also falls within the boundaries of the Quatsino First Nation, who supported the renaming plan.
This area is spiritually significant to the First Nations, and has long served as the traditional hunting and fishing grounds for the Che:k'tles7et'h' peoples.
"We are pleased to announce that today we have completed 15 years of protocol development with the province of British Columbia," said Che:k'tles7et'h' Tyee (head hereditary chief) Francis Gillette. "Since the park was created, the hereditary leadership of the Che:k'tles7et'h' First Nation has been attempting to reconcile the honor of the Crown with the Che:k'tles7et'h' Peoples."
"The Maa-nulth treaty between B.C., Canada and First Nations, including the Ka:'yu:'k't'h'/Che:k'tles7et'h' First Nations, recognizes the important role that they play in continuing their culture and connection to the land," said Aboriginal Relations and Reconciliation Minister George Abbott. "This agreement exemplifies the provisions of the treaty for parks management and planning ­ working co-operatively regarding management of areas that are important to all British Columbians."
Muqin/Brooks Peninsula Provincial Park is the second-largest protected area on Vancouver Island. The park has one of the most unique landscapes on Vancouver Island as it largely escaped the impacts of the last ice age, offering everything from inter-tidal marine life to a sub-alpine mountain environment. It is home to a variety of rare plant species and unique geologic formations, providing unparalleled opportunities for scientific study.