The time to resolve conflicts between development and ancient burial sites is long before permits are issued and construction has begun. The provincial government, municipalities and First Nations should work together to formulate or improve regulations, policies and protocols that prevent or resolve conflicts such as the one surrounding the construction of a home on Grace Islet.
The 0.75-hectare islet, which sits in Ganges Harbour just off Saltspring Island, has been owned by an Alberta businessman since 1990. In 2006, First Nations burial cairns and human remains were discovered on the islet, but it has long been known as part of an ancient First Nations village and has been registered as an archeological site since 1974.
The property鈥檚 owner has begun construction of a luxury home on the islet, which has sparked protests by First Nations, Saltspring Island residents and others concerned about protecting and respecting the graves there. The landowner has obtained all the necessary permits and is in compliance with the law.
It would be difficult to imagine anyone trying to build in a known graveyard. Apart from cultural and religious reasons, provincial regulations protect registered cemeteries. But burial sites that date before 1864 fall under the Heritage Conservation Act and don鈥檛 have the same degree of protection.
So one group鈥檚 burial site is a cemetery, while another group鈥檚 burial ground is an archeological site. First Nations representatives say that鈥檚 not fair, and it鈥檚 not hard to understand why.
Vancouver Island has been inhabited for thousands of years. Almost any construction runs the risk of encountering archeological evidence, including unknown burial sites. Protocols worked out with First Nations help handle such situations without conflict, though, even in ways that bring people closer together.
In 1995, Loris Corletto was leading a Victoria city crew digging up Dallas Road for water-main maintenance when human remains were found. Carefully, Corletto got into the trench with a small trowel and retrieved the bones. They were identified as a First Nations teen who had died 300 to 500 years ago.
Corletto was invited to the reburial ceremony conducted by the Songhees Nation, and years later talked about how powerfully and positively the ritual had affected him.
During construction of the new Craigflower Bridge last year, several sets of human remains were discovered. They were carefully and respectfully stored until they could be reburied in a ceremony conducted by the Songhees Nation.
Things have vastly improved since 1952, when the completion of the Kenny Dam on the Nechako River in northwestern sa国际传媒 destroyed Cheslatta Carrier Nation burial sites. Skeletal remains and fragments of coffins displaced by flooding are still being discovered today.
But the Grace Islet controversy shows there鈥檚 still need for improvement. With nearly 40,000 registered archeological sites in sa国际传媒, and with more likely to be discovered, the provincial government and First Nations should work more closely together to identify sites of special significance before construction is approved.
It would not be practical to prohibit development on every site where ancient human remains are found, but with respect, co-operation and sensitivity, the living and the dead do not need to be in conflict.
