Heritage and cultural heritage is a value that is important to First Nations, islanders, and all British Columbians.

The Islands Trust Area is a place that is rich in heritage and cultural sites.

Sites include village sites, middens, petroglyphs, pictographs, clam gardens, fish weirs, canoe landings, culturally modified trees, rock shelters, ancestral resting places and graves, burial cairns, tools, and cultural objects dating back over 10,000 years.

In addition, there are heritage orchards, and landscapes from historic use, and historic buildings.

There are thousands of registered and unknown archaeological sites within the Islands Trust Area that must be preserved and protected.

Islands Trust seeks, in cooperation with First Nations and other levels of government, to preserve and protect:

• known and unknown archaeological and cultural heritage sites
• cultural objects
• ancestral loved ones’ remains and resting places
• sacred sites, traditional use areas
• culturally significant areas as identified by First Nations and/or sites or locations defined by First Nations as culturally important both disclosed and confidential

Archaeological  and Cultural Heritage Sites in British Columbia: sacred sites for Indigenous People.

Archaeological and cultural sites provide invaluable insight into the history and ways of life of Indigenous Peoples in this area. For Indigenous People, these sites are not only remnants of the past but carry ongoing cultural, spiritual, and sacred significance. Many contain ancestral remains and continue to serve as places for traditional knowledge, stewardship, and cultural practices such as camas management, controlled burning, and care of traditional gardens, orchards, and forest management. These practices embody the relationship between Indigenous People and the land, spanning centuries of careful stewardship, practices that can support us today.

Examples of archaeological and cultural heritage sites include but are not limited to:

• Cemeteries and burial sites with remains of relatives
• Ancient village sites used for housing and community living
• Hunting and Fishing locations that provide sustenance
• Plant Processing Area, such as those of camas, traditional foods and medicines
• Stone tool manufacturing sites, where tools were crafted
• Culturally modified trees (CMTs) that show evidence of traditional harvesting and care of trees
• Controlled burn areas, integral to land management and ecological balance
• Traditional gardens and orchards, maintained for food sovereignty
• Woolly Dog Care Sites, connected to traditional practices of animal are and wool weaving

These sites reflect deep-rooted knowledge systems and are highly sensitive, requiring respectful handling and protection.

In British Columbia, all archaeological sites are protected under the Heritage Conservation Act (HCA), whether they are located on private, public, or Crown land. This protection means that these sites cannot be altered without a permit.

It is crucial for property owners and developers to consider archaeological sites in planning processes. Disturbing registered or unregistered archaeological sites without a permit is illegal and can result in stop-work orders by the province, or fines. Property owners have a legal responsibility to ensure archaeological sites are not disturbed and ensure all appropriate permits are in place. Property owners can find out if a property is in a Registered Archaeological site by submitting a BC Archaeological Information Request Form.

What We Are Doing

• Collaborating with First Nations and other governments
• Working with Cultural Knowledge Holders, archeologists, and islanders
• Asking the Province to work with us to update agreements about provincially managed lands
• Helping you protect heritage areas with the Natural Area Protection Tax Exemption Program (NAPTEP), land donations and conservation covenants

Local Priorities

All local trust committees and Bowen Island Municipality have official community plan policies to address the identification, protection, preservation and enhancement of heritage and may also have heritage-related projects underway.

Learn more about these policies on their respective webpages.