B.C. government signs Gwa'ni land-use plan with Namgis First Nation on Vancouver Island

The provincial government signed four ministerial orders to implement the Gwa'ni Land Use Planning Project with the Namgis First Nation, affecting about 166,000 hectares in the Nimpkish Valley on northern Vancouver Island. The move drew support from the Namgis, local officials and some industry groups, while the B.C. Conservatives criticized the government for proceeding amid concerns tied to DRIPA and public consultation.

The provincial government has signed four ministerial orders to advance the Gwa'ni Land Use Planning Project, a joint plan developed with the Namgis First Nation for the Nimpkish Valley on northern Vancouver Island. The project sets rules for how land, rivers, forests and watersheds in the area will be used and is described by the government as a way to balance cultural, environmental and economic values. The plan covers about 166,000 hectares, includes old-growth forest and salmon habitat, and has been worked on since 2021 with input from First Nations, industry, local governments, tourism operators and the public. Key facts: - The ministerial orders implement the Gwa'ni Land Use Planning Project in the Nimpkish Valley near Alert Bay and Port McNeill and cover roughly 1,660 sq. km (about 166,000 hectares). - The plan aims to identify areas for protection, areas for forestry activity and ways to balance cultural, environmental and economic interests; it includes habitat for old-growth forest and all five Pacific salmon species. - The Namgis First Nation and the provincial government have a joint decision-making agreement related to parts of the territory, and the plan is said to support forestry under Tree Farm Licence 37, with that agreement signed in December 2025. - Western Forest Products, some mayors, regional officials and tourism representatives publicly welcomed the move as providing longer-term stability for the north Island. - The B.C. Conservatives criticized the government, calling the approach "land governance by stealth," and said the actions are proceeding amid broader concerns about the Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples Act (DRIPA) and past, paused or withdrawn land-governance proposals. - The province has previously said it will amend DRIPA after court rulings and public debate; critics have called for a pause or repeal, and the government recently paused DRIPA-layered amendments to the Heritage Conservation Act. Summary: The decision moves a multi-year, jointly developed land-use plan into implementation and highlights differing public and political reactions to how Indigenous rights laws are being applied in provincial land governance. Conservatives are calling for a halt to new land-use agreements until DRIPA-related concerns are addressed, while supporters say the plan brings predictability for local economies and stewardship. Undetermined at this time.