BC Regulations for Archaeological Sites
Archaeological sites are physical evidence of how and where people lived in the past. First Nations have an ongoing connection to these sites, many of which are culturally sensitive, contain ancestral remains, and have an important
sacred and spiritual value. Examples of archaeological sites include cemeteries, ancient village sites, hunting, fishing, and plant processing sites, stone tool manufacturing areas, and culturally modified trees.
In British Columbia, archaeological sites are protected under the Heritage Conservation Act (HCA), whether they are located on private, public, or crown land. This means that sites must not be altered without a permit.
As private or commercial property owners and developers, it is important to gather information and incorporate archaeological considerations into your planning processes. It is illegal to disturb ground in a registered or unregistered archaeological site without a permit. Doing so can lead to stop work orders, fines and/or jail time.
Properties located in a known archaeological site
All ground disturbance in a registered archaeological site in KFN’s core territory requires both a provincial Heritage Conservation Act (HCA) permit and a K'ómoks First Nation CHIP before your start your project. This includes any digging, filling, staking, ground leveling, excavation, trenching and land clearing/grubbing.
All archaeological sites in BC are protected under the Heritage Conservation Act and it is illegal to alter or change a site in any manner without a permit. This applies whether sites are located on public or private land, and whether the site is known or unknown.
Properties located in the K’ómoks First Nation Permit Area
K’ómoks First Nation’s Cultural Heritage Investigation Permits (CHIPs) are required before starting any ground-disturbing projects or activities taking place within registered archaeological sites and in K'ómoks First Nation's designated areas of high archaeological potential (AOP), which are found up to 200m from major waterways, and within 200m of previously recorded archaeological sites within KFN’s core territory.
This Information Guide contains a helpful summery of the CHIP requirements including a map of the Area of Potential.
The first step is to apply for a Preliminary Field Reconnaissance (Form A). This initial data gathering stage will determine the probability of cultural remains existing on the property and, if so, what next steps are required. This step is important because it allows the applicant to work directly with K’ómoks archaeology staff to put a plan in place so that work may proceed on the property. Alternatively, applicants might choose to alter their plans to eliminate or limit the amount of ground disturbance required. It is important to know that without undertaking this assessment, a stop work order will be issued by the province under the BC Heritage Conservation Act if archaeological material is found – even if a building or development permit has already been issued.
Please visit the drop-down menus below to read about the CHIP permits that could apply to your project. More information is also available on the K'ómoks First Nation website.
Protecting Cultural Heritage through CHIP
K’ómoks First Nation’s (KFN) Cultural Heritage Policy (CHP) is a fundamental part of the consultation process and allows KFN to make informed decisions about irreversible impacts to our cultural heritage.
This system manages and mitigates impacts to Cultural Heritage in the Nation’s Core Territory (Deep Bay to Oyster River, including Denman and Hornby Island). It is a step towards reconciliation that enables K’ómoks to further document and protect Cultural Heritage, increase awareness and decrease the number of sites that are destroyed by development.
For more information: Read brochure
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