The Canadian government’s colonization and oppression of Indigenous communities permeates into every aspect of life, including sports and recreation. The recent dispute between the Syilx Okanagan Nation and the Colville Confederated Tribes over Big White Ski Resort’s expansion plans highlights the ongoing conflict between Indigenous land rights and commercial development in sports.
Located near Kelowna in British Columbia, the Big White Ski Resort intends to double the size of its recreational terrain by adding ski trails, golf courses, mountain biking areas, and other winter and summer activities.
This expansion extends into the traditional territories of the Syilx Okanagan Nation, which is under the jurisdiction of the Westbank First Nation. However, the Colville Confederated Tribes contest that the expansion also falls under the Sinixt traditional territory and expressed hope to be represented. The Colville Confederated Tribes’ reserve is based in Washington state.
Both groups claim to represent the Sinixt people, but the Westbank First Nation Chief Robert Louie told CBC News that they are unwilling to allow “another group in the US” to represent the land, and Syilx Okanagan Nation executive council’s Chief Louie expressed concerns over excluding his nation from resources and consultation on the development when they consult other Indigenous groups.
The Sinixt in the US were historically relocated south after their reserves were not established in the Canadian portion of their territory, and were relocated to land away from their traditional hunting grounds. Jarred-Michael Erickson, chairman of the Colville Confederated Tribes, told CBC News that this disagreement “has been erasing [their] history and who [they] are as Sinixt people.” The Sinixt people consider themselves to be a transboundary tribe, and were recognized by the Supreme Court of Canada in 2021 as an “Aboriginal people of Canada.”
Historical context on Indigenous land rights and treaties
Canada is renowned for its vast natural resources and expansive landscapes, which are enjoyed by all those who live in the country. Its national and provincial parks offer stunning spaces for hiking, walking, and camping, and many of Canada’s popular sports like skiing rely on the natural environment. It is, therefore, crucial to acknowledge the traditional Indigenous territories on which these activities take place.
Settlers’ colonization of the land to establish Canada in the mid-nineteenth century led to the expropriation of traditional Indigenous lands. Following this, and especially after the federal government passed the Indian Act in 1876 — which was designed to control and assimilate Indigenous people into Euro-Canadian culture — lands traditionally owned by Indigenous communities have been exploited for commercial and economic purposes.
Treaties such as Treaty 6 — signed between the government and Cree, Assiniboine, and Ojibwe leaders in 1876 — have allowed non-Indigenous settlers to displace Indigenous land ownership and exploit their resources from these lands.
Preserving cultural and religious identity
In 2017, the Supreme Court of Canada rejected a Ktunaxa Nation case against developers creating a new ski resort in southeastern British Columbia. The court ruled that public interest outweighs the religious rights of the Ktunaxa Nation, who strongly opposed the development because the area, known to them as Qat’muk, is home to the Grizzly Bear Spirit.
According to the Ktunaxa community, any development in the area would drive away the spirits, which are central to religious beliefs and practices. However, in 2020, the Purcell Mountains of BC, where the Jumbo Glacier Ski Resort was to be built, was transferred to the Ktunaxa First Nation for management as an Indigenous protected area.
For many Indigenous communities, a strong connection to their land is crucial to both their mental and physical well-being, whether that be access to hunting grounds, or cultural traditions tied to specific sacred lands, as well as the preservation of their cultural identity. In this instance, the development of traditional lands for skiing disrupts Indigenous cultural and religious traditions.
The establishment of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission in 2008 was followed by Call to Action 91, which urged all sporting officials and event organizers to “ensure that Indigenous peoples’ territorial protocols are respected, and local Indigenous communities are engaged in all aspects of planning and participating in such events.”
Proper Indigenous representation must also be included in discussions regarding the use of traditional lands for all outdoor and indoor sports, as well as other recreational activities. For currently operating ski resorts, acknowledging the use of traditional Indigenous land and recognizing the history of the resort are important steps in addressing the long and complex history of colonization and exploitation of Indigenous lands.
