Welcome to the online home for information about the proposed SC’IA⁄NEW Tribal Park at Mary Hill.
If established, the Tribal Park will be designated as an Indigenous Protected & Conserved Area (IPCA) on SC’IA⁄NEW traditional territory in the region of Metchosin, British Columbia.
Cover Photo : Bev Hall
Where is the proposed SC’IA⁄NEW Tribal Park at Mary Hill located?
The proposed SC’IA⁄NEW Tribal Park is located in the heart of SC’IA⁄NEW traditional territory and within the District of Metchosin, southwest of Victoria, on the southern tip of Vancouver Island on a peninsula surrounded by the Salish Sea.
Photo : Bev Hall
Background on Mary Hill
On the southern tip of Vancouver Island lies approximately 176 hectares of land that has been closed to public access and sheltered from the impacts of development, as a result of its ownership and management by Canada's Department of National Defence since WWII. Giant fir trees, red arbutus, and twisted Garry oaks provide a habitat for more than a dozen endangered species that thrive in this unique space. These lands also have SC’IA⁄NEW (Beecher Bay) First Nation’s important cultural features, as well as historical national defence structures from World War II. In 2018, the Department of National Defence declared Mary Hill surplus to its needs.
Under the BC Treaty Process, SC’IA⁄NEW (Beecher Bay) First Nation has been negotiating with Canada to acquire Mary Hill as Treaty Settlement Lands. It is anticipated that SC’IA⁄NEW (Beecher Bay) First Nation may soon obtain these lands and will be able to deliver enduring socio-economic benefits for SC’IA⁄NEW members. SC’IA⁄NEW is currently considering an option to conserve these lands in perpetuity with the help of supporters and friends through a collaborative, SC’IA⁄NEW-led stewardship arrangement. SC’IA⁄NEW has agreed that it will consider forgoing conventional options involving development opportunities on these lands. Instead, a Tribal Park (sometimes referred to as an Indigenous Protected & Conserved Area) will be created, provided that the community’s overarching social and economic interests and priorities can be sustained.
Reconciliation in Action
Multiple diverse agencies have come together to assess the potential to create a Tribal Park centered on Mary Hill. SC’IA⁄NEW is working alongside Project Supporters: District of Metchosin, Habitat Acquisition Trust, and Pearson College UWC, and in collaboration with the Te’mexw Treaty Association to explore ways to protect the Mary Hill lands in perpetuity, with the collaboration led by SC’IA⁄NEW First Nation.
Standstill Agreement
On February 24, 2022, SC’IA⁄NEW signed a Standstill Agreement with the Project Supporters to exclusively explore a Tribal Park (previously referred to as Mary Hill IPA) outcome for 18 months. The parties are working together to evaluate an optimal Tribal Park structure and to secure the financial resources required to realize this opportunity.
A Tribal Park at Mary Hill could protect the environmentally sensitive ecosystems and SC’IA⁄NEW's rich cultural heritage, create economic opportunities for SC’IA⁄NEW, and educational opportunities for the broader community. The parties are working together in friendship, to achieve a shared vision of active reconciliation.
On August 23 2023, SC’IA⁄NEW and the Project Supporters agreed to extend the Standstill Agreement for a further six months, until February 2024, to allow for continued evaluation of a potential Tribal Park outcome at Mary Hill.
In April 2024, based on community feedback, SC’IA⁄NEW Chief & Council changed the official project area terminology from Indigenous Protected Area to Tribal Park.
What is a Tribal Park (or Indigenous Protected & Conserved Area)?
Standing in contrast to most parks and protected areas in Canada, Tribal Parks and Indigenous Protected & Conserved Areas (IPCA) are conservation areas that are owned and governed or co-governed by Indigenous communities, often reflecting Indigenous laws and legal orders. Tribal Parks are a way of recognizing that Indigenous peoples have successfully governed and conserved the lands and resources in their territories since time immemorial. Guided by Indigenous laws and traditional knowledge, Tribal Parks and IPCAs are ways to revitalize Indigenous stewardship models and prioritize biodiversity, conservation, and cultural connection.
IPCAs were recognized in 2017 by the Government of Canada as a means of reaching Canada’s Aichi Targets under the International Convention on Biological Diversity, and endorsed by the 2018 Indigenous Circle of Experts in their publication ‘We Rise Together’.
About SC’IA⁄NEW
Contact : Chief Russ Chipps
Tel : 250-478-3535
email : russchipps@telus.net
SC’IA⁄NEW people are the traditional stewards of the lands within which Mary Hill is located. The word "SC’IA⁄NEW" (pronounced CHEA-nuh) translates from the Klallam language as "the place of the big fish", indicating the richness of the sea life in the region that sustains the SC’IA⁄NEW and neighboring First Nation communities with food, shelter, medicine, and clothing.
Mary Hill is part of SC’IA⁄NEW’s ancestral lands, located approximately 5 km from SC’IA⁄NEW’s main reserve lands. Because the land is a largely untouched landscape, cultural and ecological values throughout the site have been well-preserved. At least 33 archaeological sites have been recorded on the Mary Hill lands and are recognized under the Heritage Conservation Act. Pre-contact Coast Salish occupation is evidenced throughout the Mary Hill lands, where one can find culturally modified trees, burial cairns, shell middens, and historic petroforms and materials. Renewing guardianship, stewardship, and cultural practices in the area is a central component of SC’IA⁄NEW’s vision for the Mary Hill lands.
In the early 1900’s, the Department of National Defence acquired the Mary Hill lands, interrupting SC’IA⁄NEW’s use and occupation. A key military training site since the 1940’s, a number of historical sites containing remnants from World War II can also be found throughout the Mary Hill lands.
SC’IA⁄NEW First Nation is currently negotiating a modern treaty as a member of the Te'mexw Treaty Association through the BC treaty process.
Project Supporters
Multiple local agencies (the project supporters) have come together to envision a Tribal Park that would protect the Mary Hill property in perpetuity.
Funding Acknowledgements
We would like to acknowledge financial assistance from the following individuals, organisations and government agencies - thank you for your generous support!
Christopher G. Pratt
Glasswaters Foundation
WHAT RARE HABITATS AND SPECIES ARE FOUND AT MARY HILL?
Ecological Values
Mary Hill is part of the Coastal Douglas-fir ecosystem, which is the smallest and rarest ecological zone in British Columbia. 98 per cent of plant communities in this ecosystem are at-risk. Habitat Acquisition Trust reports that the proposed Tribal Park is home to 15 per cent of the remaining protected old-growth Coastal Douglas-fir in the world. Mary Hill also includes the Garry oak ecosystem, which is found only in a small corner of southwest BC and contains more species at risk than any other ecological zone in the province.
Species & Habitats
The BC Conservation Data Centre has confirmed 31 rare species at Mary Hill, including 15 listed Species at Risk Act species, and four ecological communities that are critically imperiled.
These species include Western Screech owl, Townsend’s Long-eared Bat, Peregrine falcon, Sharp-tailed snake, and more than a dozen rare plants, mosses and lichens. Rare Habitats include Coastal Douglas-fir, Garry oak, Wetland and Coastal shoreline.
The creation of a Tribal Park at Mary Hill would increase the protection of old growth Coastal Douglas-fir habitat by 50 per cent
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Mary Hill?
Mary Hill is a 176 hectare parcel of lush forested terrain and waterfront located in the heart of SC’IA⁄NEW First Nation’s traditional territory. The Mary Hill lands are located in the District of Metchosin, southwest of Victoria on the southern tip of Vancouver Island on a peninsula surrounded by the Salish Sea. The Department of National Defence (DND) currently owns the Mary Hill lands but is preparing to dispose of them as they are regarded as surplus to their needs. There is currently no public access to these DND lands. SC’IA⁄NEW has the potential to acquire Mary Hill as part of its negotiations within the BC Treaty Process. The Mary Hill lands are an ecological gem that includes some of the last remaining old growth Coastal Douglas-fir forests, SC’IA⁄NEW archaeological and cultural sites, and historic national defence structures from World War II. The Mary Hill lands shelter at least 15 federally listed species-at-risk and are home to other globally rare ecological communities.
How large would a Mary Hill Indigenous Protected Area be?
While the total size of Mary Hill lands is 176 hectares (approx. 435 acres), the minimum size anticipated for a future Tribal Park (Indigenous Protected & Conserved Area) at Mary Hill is 136 hectares (338 acres). This expanse does not include a further 40 hectares (98 acres) of contiguous land that is presently being held back by DND, to ensure public safety and the safety of ongoing DND operations on an adjacent site. If the Tribal Park option is ultimately endorsed by SC’IA⁄NEW First Nation as the preferred land use option for Mary Hill treaty settlement land, it is anticipated that other adjacent lands may be dedicated by the corresponding land owners to a complementary conservation use. For example, Pearson College UWC has already indicated that the College would dedicate 14 hectares (36 acres) of environmentally significant land to a Tribal Park outcome.
How would SC’IA⁄NEW obtain Mary Hill?
SC’IA⁄NEW is part of the Te’mexw Treaty Association (TTA), a non-profit society comprised of five Coast Salish First Nations negotiating their treaties together within the BC Treaty Process. Once this process has concluded, each Nation will vote on its specific Treaty. Through the BC Treaty Process, the federal and provincial governments actively pursue modern Treaties with First Nations. Treaty Settlement Lands are areas of land owned and governed by First Nations as part of a modern treaty. This means that when a Treaty agreement is concluded between SC’IA⁄NEW and the federal and provincial governments, SC’IA⁄NEW would own the Mary Hill lands and decide what to do with that land.
What will SC’IA⁄NEW do with the Mary Hill lands?
Although SC’IA⁄NEW does not yet own the Mary Hill lands, it is proactively planning for future land use, should the Nation obtain the lands as part of its Treaty settlement. Under the Treaty framework, final decisions about land use at Mary Hill will rest with SC’IA⁄NEW.
The Nation has been exploring two main options:
1) A real estate development scenario that would generate ongoing revenue for the Nation through sales or leases and taxes;
2) A Tribal Park (or Indigenous Protected & Conserved Area) that would preserve the lands in their current state while also allowing economic development and activities that are compatible with a protected area.
What is a Tribal Park?
A Tribal Park is similar to an Indigenous Protected & Conserved Area. Both represent a Indigenous-led model for stewardship of lands and resources for the long term. Tribal Parks prioritize Indigenous rights and responsibilities by acknowledging the relationship between Indigenous peoples with land and waters. In some circumstances IPCA are different than Tribal Parks in that they may include collaborative conservation initiatives that might not fall fully under the sole authority of a specific First Nation.
The Indigenous Circle of Experts (2018) defines Indigenous Protected & Conserved Areas (IPCA) as, “initiatives to protect lands and waters where Indigenous governments have the primary role in protecting and conserving ecosystems through Indigenous laws, governance, and knowledge systems.” An IPCA could allow some economic activity aligned with the conservation goals and objectives (for example, eco-tourism, habitat restoration projects, arts, culture and education programs, research centre, healing centre, etc.). An IPCA could include partnerships that support Sc’ianew self-determination (for instance with Crown governments, non-profit organizations, philanthropic funders, etc.) Printable info about What is a Tribal Park?
Other examples of Tribal Parks and IPCAs include:
• Tla-o-qui-aht Tribal Park on Meares Island near Tofino, BC. In April 1984, the Tla-o-qui-aht and Ahousaht First Nations bands declared Meares Island as Canada’s first “Tribal Park” in a bid to stop logging plans of its old-growth forests. Printable info about Tla-o-qui-aht Tribal Park
• Dasiqox Tribal Park is located in traditional Tŝilhqot’in territory, about 125 km southwest of Williams Lake, BC. In October 2014, Xeni Gwet’in and Yuneŝit’in Governments, together with Tŝilhqot’in National Government created the IPCA on 300,000 hectares of land with the goal of overseeing environmental stewardship, while developing a sustainable economy and upholding the land as a place where Tŝilhqot’in culture and language can thrive. Printable info about Dasiqox Tribal Park
• Ts’udé Nilįné Tueyata (Ramparts River and Wetlands), a sacred site for K’asho Got’ı ̨nę people in Fort Good Hope, Northwest Territories, is made up of 10,000 square kilometers of protected land.
• Edéhzhíe is a spiritual place for the Dehcho First Nations; its lands, water and wildlife are ecological and physically unique and integral to Dehcho Dene culture, language, and way of life. Edéhzhíe is the first Dene Indigenous Protected Area in Canada, covering 14,218 square kilometers in the southwestern part of the Northwest Territories.
• Seal River Watershed Initiative: led by the Sayisi Dene First Nation (in partnership with Cree, Dene and Inuit neighbours), the goal of this initiative is to permanently conserve the Seal River Watershed (located in Northern Manitoba) as an Indigenous Protected Area. This proposal has received initial funding from the Government of Canada and work is ongoing to make this a reality.
Indigenous-led protection and conservation more broadly is also ongoing.
• Haida Gwaii : The Council of the Haida Nation has created 18 Haida Gwaii Protected Areas covering over 500,000 hectares of land, including 7 older parks and ecological reserves and 11 new sites established through government-to-government agreements with BC. The protected areas are managed by the Haida Gwaii Management Council, including two councillors from Haida Nation and two BC government officials.
More information about the SC’IA⁄NEW Tribal Park: a Indigenous Protected Area can be found here
https://temexw.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/Mary-Hill-Announcement-Final-Draft.pdf
Printable info about Thaidene Nene IPCA
What is the Standstill Agreement?
The Standstill Agreement is an agreement between four supporters of the Tribal Park (formerly called Mary Hill IPA) proposal: SC’IA⁄NEW Nation, the District of Metchosin, Pearson College UWC, and Habitat Acquisition Trust. It is a commitment to stand still with respect to potential land uses other than the proposed Tribal Park, meaning:
• SC’IA⁄NEW will not entertain other options for the lands;
• The other Tribal Park Project Supporters will fundraise and support fundraising initiatives;
• All parties will work to develop the concept and support related community engagement for the period of the Standstill Agreement.
The Standstill Agreement does not commit any party to proceed with a Tribal Park or obligate SC’IA⁄NEW to establish a protected area, but the parties are committed to diligently pursuing this outcome for the duration of the Standstill Agreement. This does not mean any decisions have been made, or that anything is finalized at Mary Hill. Any decisions that are made must be made with SC’IA⁄NEW community members’ consent.
Who are the Project Supporters?
District of Metchosin: The District of Metchosin is a rural community with approximately 5000 residents, located on the southern tip of Vancouver Island. Prominent values in the community include volunteerism, support for local agriculture and an abiding appreciation for the lands and waters that our residents and visitors are able to enjoy. The District has worked in friendship and collaboration with our neighbours at SC’IA⁄NEW First Nation in several ways, including in a first of its kind, multi-party land swap arrangement (2017) that will create future benefit for both communities. In this same spirit, the District of Metchosin is honoured to support the Standstill Agreement for a potential Tribal Park at Mary Hill.
Habitat Acquisition Trust: Habitat Acquisition Trust (HAT) is a land trust that works for the conservation of natural areas on southern Vancouver Island and the Gulf Islands through protection, collaboration, stewardship and education. HAT aims to empower individuals and communities of all kinds with the tools and resources they need to be good stewards to nature.
Pearson College UWC: This global college was established in 1974 on a seafront campus along Pedder Bay, within the traditional territory of the SC’IA⁄NEW First Nation. The two-year pre-university school annually welcomes 200 students from around the world and across Canada. The College is part of the 18-school United World Colleges movement with a mission to make education a force to unite people, nations and cultures for peace and a sustainable future.
What role are the Project Supporters playing in all of this?
The Project Supporters each recognize that SC’IA⁄NEW must be fairly compensated if the Nation decides to create a Tribal Park on its Treaty Settlement Lands. They are supporting fundraising initiatives that will compensate SC’IA⁄NEW if it decides to create a Tribal Park at Mary Hill. This would be compensation for revenue that could have been obtained through land development. Pearson College UWC would also contribute some of its lands to any potential Tribal Park.
Why is a school like Pearson College UWC involved in this proposal?
Pearson College UWC has offered a portion of its property (14 hectares) to SC’IA⁄NEW First Nation to be included in the proposed Tribal Park. Pearson’s comprehensive Reconciliation Action Plan is available at https://www.pearsoncollege.ca/who-we-are/reconciliation
What comes next?
In 2019, prior to the start of the pandemic, SC’IA⁄NEW leadership was engaging with SC’IA⁄NEW members about land use potential generally and the proposed Tribal Park (IPCA) specifically. This process has resumed, along with detailed feasibility work. SC’IA⁄NEW will develop further processes to incorporate community feedback. The Project Supporters will focus on fundraising to support a Tribal Park if SC’IA⁄NEW chosen as the best land use option at Mary Hill. The Project Supporters will develop a formal proposal for SC’IA⁄NEW to evaluate so that community members can make an informed decision.
Are the Mary Hill lands currently accessible to the public?
No. The lands are currently owned by the DND and have been closed to the public since World War II. The lands remain closed to the public for the time being. A potential Tribal Park at Mary Hill could enable public access to these lands for the first time in generations.
If the Tribal Park project proceeds, how will it be funded?
Several funding scenarios have been identified at a conceptual level. These will be evaluated in detail and refined during the term of the Standstill Agreement. New scenarios and options may also be identified in collaboration with potential funders. The overarching principle for all funding scenarios will be to ensure that SC’IA⁄NEW be compensated for foregone revenue from a conventional real estate scenario, and its over-arching social and economic interests can be maintained.
Is there a connection between the proposed Tribal Park project and the District of Metchosin “Buffer Land”?
In early July 2022, an article posted on the Westshore and Capital Daily websites raised questions about certain lands (known locally as the “Buffer Lands” or the “Metchosin Green Space.”) that were part of the 2017 Reconciliation Agreement between the District of Metchosin, the City of Langford and SC’IA⁄NEW First Nation. The District of Metchosin has issued a statement to address any confusion between the Buffer Lands and the Mary Hill project, which includes a statement from the SC’IA⁄NEW Tribal Park Steering Committee (formerly Mary Hill IPA Steering Committee). Press here to read the statement.
Quotes from the Partners
We aren’t just talking about reconciliation; we are demonstrating it with this friendship and actions. We are working together as equals, to do this in a good way. This potential Indigenous Protected Area is much bigger than a triple bottom line deal. We are bringing economic development, community, environmental protection and education all together."
At Mary Hill we have a pristine example of the last of the old growth coastal Douglas-fir, of which less than one per cent remains of its original extent. When considering options for protecting this forest, an Indigenous Protected Area is more desirable than conventional park models that can often alienate Indigenous communities.
Pearson College UWC is, to our knowledge, the first educational institution in Canada to voluntarily add its land to a true community effort dedicated to preserving this precious natural environment through Indigenous-led initiatives
We are working to achieve something that most of us never thought was possible. We want to preserve a part of the region that is important to all of us and to enhance the ability of SC’IA⁄NEW to further develop a strong socio-economic foundation.
Mary Hill Photo Gallery
What makes Mary Hill so unique? Please enjoy these photos to find out.
Old Growth Douglas-fir Forest
Photo : TJ Watt
Views of Juan de Fuca Strait
Photo : Bev Hall
Rare plants
Photo : Tim Ennis
Coastal Habitat
Photo : Tim Ennis
Looking south towards Rocky Point
Photo : TJ Watt
Garter Snake
Photo : Tim Ennis
Pileated woodpecker
Photo : Tim Ennis
Tree frog
Photo : Tim Ennis
Camas
Photo : Tim Ennis
Rare fungus
Photo : Bev Hall
Ferns and fungus
Photo : Bev Hall
Rare sharp-tailed snake
Photo: Carol Voyt
Mary Hill hilltop
Photo : Carol Voyt
Old Douglas-fir
Photo : Ronna Woodstra
Old utility road
Photo : TJ Watt
Stand of Douglas-fir
Photo: TJ Watt
Grassy meadow slope
Photo : HAT
WWII gun placements
Photo : HAT
SC’IA⁄NEW Mary Hill IPA Video
This video was filmed on the Mary Hill lands. The information in this video is provided for exploratory discussion purposes only. If you have any questions, please visit the contact us section of this website.
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