R.au.Sh. Indigenous Protected and Conserved Area (IPCA)
Our Responsibility
It is our responsibility as Símpcwemc and as humans who steward the earth to yecwmenúlecw (take care of the land), tknémentem (preserve the land), and xyemstém re tmicw (respect the earth).
By taking care of the earth, we ensure good relations with all living things – including one another. Indigenous management approaches to conservation encourage reciprocal interactions with land, water, plants, and animals.
R.au.Sh River Valley
The Upper R.au.Sh (5,582 ha) and Lower R.au.Sh (1,279 ha) were designated as protected areas in 2001, covering approximately 15% of the entire 51,252-hectare valley. In March 2023, Simpcw designated the entire 51,252 ha R.au.Sh Valley as an Indigenous Protected and Conserved Area (IPCA). The protection of the valley is supported by Simpcw Leadership and is endorsed by Simpcwemc and Elders.
Renamed as the R.au.Sh River in the eraly 1900s, this valley represents one of BC’s last largely intact inland ecosystem, encompassing rare inland temperate rainforest habitat – an environment typically found only on coastal areas.
What is an IPCA (Indigenous Protected and Conserved Area)
Indigenous Protected and Conserved Areas (IPCAs) are lands and waters where Indigenous governments primarily protect and conserve ecosystems through Indigenous laws, governance, and knowledge systems.
Simpcw Leadership has published the R.au.Sh IPCA declaration in March of 2023:
The R.au.Sh Valley is a globally unique
habitat in BC’s interior, spanning
four biogeoclimatic subzones and
containing one of the world’s few
inland temperate rainforests.
This rare ecosystem, typically found
only along coasts, supports species
dependent on the cool, moisture-rich
conditions it offers—a conservation
priority and climate refuge.
Biodiversity Hotspot
The area, including
surrounding protected
spaces such as Wells Gray,
serves as a refugium for
caribou and other species
affected by climate change.
Support
Building Relationships:
Simpcw has done a significant amount of work
relationship building with the First Nations
whose territory overlaps with ours; the municipal
and district governments whose boundaries sit
within SimpcwúÍecw.
Land Stewardship
It is our responsibility as Símpcwemc
and as humans who steward the earth
to yecwmenúlecw (take care of the land),
tknémentem (preserve the land), and xyemstém
re tmicw (respect the earth).
All our Relations:
By taking care of the earth, we ensure good
relations with all living things – including one
another. Indigenous management approaches to
conservation encourage reciprocal interactions
with land, water, plants, and animals.
Future Plans
Community Engagement
Simpcw is dedicated to extensive community
engagement, utilizing awarded funding to
ensure that the final Protected Area reflects
the wishes of Símpcwemc.
Economic Opportunities
The project aims to create job prospects for
our Indigenous members by providing training
and employment in various fields, including
environmental conservation, monitoring,
enforcement, cultural heritage work, and
public education.
Tourism Development
Simpcw will promote agri-tourism and regenerative
tourism, providing opportunities
for visitors to learn about and participate in
traditional harvesting and hunting in the
valley, and engage in on-the-land physical
recreation.
For more information please contact:
Kia Jules, Tmicw Coordinator, Project Lead
Kia.Jules@simpcw.com
P.: 250.672.9995 Ext.: 259