The Esté-tiwilh/Sigurd Creek Conservancy is approximately 1,112 hectares in size and is adjacent to the northern boundary of Tantalus Park in southwestern British Columbia.
The conservancy represents approximately 12 percent of the 9,164 hectare Esté-tiwilh Ḵwéḵwayex̱ Kwelháynexw ta Sḵwx̱wú7mesh Temixw, or Squamish Nation Wild Spirit Place, on the west side of the Squamish River between the Ashlu and Elaho watersheds (See Figures 1 and 2 of the Management Plan).
The conservancy is also adjacent to Yelhixw, a Squamish Nation village site, at the confluence of the Squamish River and Ashlu Creek.
Culture
The conservancy is in the asserted traditional territory of the Squamish Nation, and provides extensive opportunities for traditional spiritual and cultural uses. The translation of Esté-tiwilh (pronounced us-tut-ee-wayth) is “the great beauty and power that surrounds us and that we should strive to be in harmony with.”
Conservation
Within the conservancy is a rare floodplain Sitka Spruce Devil’s Club ecosystem.
Wildlife
The conservancy protects high value habitat, including mountain goat winter range, salmon foraging areas for grizzly bear, marbled murrelet nesting habitat, winter roost sites for bald eagle, spotted owl habitat, and steelhead and salmon spawning areas.
BC Parks honours Indigenous Peoples’ connection to the land and respects the importance of their diverse teachings, traditions, and practices within these territories. This park webpage may not adequately represent the full history of this park and the connection of Indigenous Peoples to this land. We are working in partnership with Indigenous Peoples to update our websites so that they better reflect the history and cultures of these special places.