What is 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.

Anyone conducting work within K’ómoks territory should familiarize themselves with our cultural heritage regulations. K’ómoks First Nation Cultural Heritage Investigation Permits (CHIPs) are required for all projects taking place within registered archaeological sites and in KFN’s designated areas of high archaeological potential (AOP) within KFN’s core territory.

All ground disturbance (including digging, filling, staking, ground leveling, excavation, trenching, and land clearing/grubbing) in a registered archaeological site in KFN’s core territory requires both a provincial Heritage Conservation Act (HCA) permit and a KFN CHIP.

What is a ground disturbing activity?

This includes any digging, filling, staking, ground leveling, excavation, trenching, and land clearing / grubbing.

So, if you’re capping a site with fill, grubbing the top soil, digging fence posts or holes for trees, excavating for a house, septic, or utility lines, etc. – these activities are considered as ground-disturbing.

Minor gardening work, such as planting flowers or tending to raised beds (digging less than 25 cm) are not included in these activities.

Quick Links

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. The province records and tracks known archaeological sites. A site is protected whether or not it is already recorded. These sites are fragile and subject to looting, therefore information about their locations is not released to the public.


Realtors:

  • You are strongly advised to check if known archaeological sites are recorded on specific properties listed for sale.
  • You can only make requests for parcels listed for sale.
  • You can only share the information with your client, property owner and their agents.

Property Owners & Developers:

If there is an archaeological site on your property, you must get an HCA permit before you can develop or subdivide.

Plan ahead: The provincial permitting process may take up to ten months after a qualified archaeologist has submitted the permit application (delete, depending on the scope of work.

KFN Cultural Heritage Investigation process

CHIP FAQ’S

How do I find out if my property is in an archaeologically sensitive area?

You can find out if your property is in an area of high archaeological potential (AOP) or a registered archaeological site:

  • When applying for a building permit: Your local government should inform you of your property’s archaeological status.

  • When purchasing a property: Your realtor can inform you of a property’s archaeological status.

  • Contact K’ómoks First Nation: For inquiries within KFN territory, email archpermits@komoks.ca for a $50 fee (about 1 week turnaround).

  • You can also contact the BC Archaeology Branch or the BC Association for Professional Archaeologists to find out if there a registered archaeological site within your property.

What should I do if any cultural materials are found on my property?

  • If you uncover any cultural materials at any time during construction, you must stop all ground altering work and contact KFN to get instructions on how to proceed.

    Email: archpermits@komoks.ca
    Phone: 250.339.4545 ext 120

How does KFN determine what kind of mitigations will be required during my project work?

KFN determines mitigations on a case-by-case basis, based on the cultural and archaeological significance of the location, and your project scope and construction methods.

Example mitigations for development projects within any significant KFN archaeological site:

KFN prohibits:

  • Hydro-vac and toothed bucket excavation.
  • Building a crawl space or basement or pool.
  • Removing tree stumps and roots more than 100 years old.
  • Installing in-ground septic systems and utilities.

KFN may consent to low-impact development techniques in significant sites, such as:

  • Helical pile foundations.
  • Pre-loading the construction site and building on top of the fill.
  • Installing above-ground septic tanks and utilities

Finding the Right CHIP

What Kind of CHIP Should I Apply For?

KFN has three levels of CHIP for projects, ranging from lowest probability of impact to cultural materials, to highest impact:

  • Form A: Preliminary Field Reconnaissance (PFR)
  • Form B: Archaeological Impact Assessment (AIA)
  • Form C: Site Alteration Permit (SAP)
Location I Plan To.. Permit Required Who Should Apply?

1. Outside an area of archaeological potential (AOP)

Engage in any digging or ground-disturbing activities

NO; unless potential archaeological materials found.

 N/A

 2. Within an AOP

Dig or disturb less than 100 sq ft of ground

NO; unless potential archaeological materials found

 N/A

2. Within an AOP

 Dig or disturb more than 100ft of ground

YES

FORM A: PFR CHIP

(Preliminary Field Reconnaissance)

Property owner or developer
3. Within a registered archaeological site

Engage in any ground-disturbing activities

YES

You need both a KFN CHIP and a B.C. HCA (Heritage Conservation Act) permit

FORM B: AIA CHIP

(Archaeological Impact Assessment)

FORM C: SAP CHIP

(Site Alteration Permit)

Archaeologist

Cultural Heritage Investigation, Mitigation Costs, and Associated Fees