Members of the Lil’wat and N’Quatqua First Nations held a ceremony, briefly blocking Highway 99 near Pemberton, B.C., on Friday to voice frustration with the province’s plan to limit an upcoming closure of Joffre Lakes Park next month.

The park, known as Pipi7íyekw to the Líl̓wat Nation and N’Quatqua, will close to the public from Sept. 2 to Oct. 3 to allow the nations time to harvest and carry out cultural and spiritual practices.

The nations had sought a two-month closure, while the province says the one-month period “balances cultural practices, conservation goals and public access to the park.”

The nations say the province’s decision ignores their rights and title to the territory.

“They’re not honouring or hearing our voices,” Lil’wat Nation lands and resources coordinator Rox

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