Area 38 km² Phone +1 778-437-2295 | Province British Columbia | |
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Address Okanagan-Similkameen A, BC, Canada Similar Rattlesnake Canyon, Desert Centre Osoyoos, Osoyoos Lake, Nk'Mip Desert Cultural, Spotted Lake | ||
Sẁiẁs Provincial Park (formerly Haynes Point Provincial Park) is a provincial park in British Columbia, Canada, located on the west side of Osoyoos Lake in the town of Osoyoos, which is on the United States-Canada border at the southern end of the Okanagan region of British Columbia. Now approximately 38 ha. in size, the park was originally created in 1939 and has been decreased and then increased in size since then. The name was changed from Haynes Point to sẁiẁs, the original Okanagan (Syilx'tsn) name for the region, meaning "narrowing of the waters".
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Haynes Point and adjacent Haynes Creek were named for John Carmichael Haynes (1831–1888). Haynes was "an Irishman who came to BC in 1858 and was police officer, customs officer, magistrate, assistant gold commissioner, government agent and county court judge in Similkameen, Osoyoos and Kootenay Districts for many years; member of the legislative council [of the Colony of British Columbia], 1864-66, rancher at Osoyoos, 1866-88, accumulating 22,000 acres. Generally known as Judge Haynes."
Heritage
Sẁiẁs Provincial Park is an important archaeological and cultural heritage site, located within the traditional territory of the Osoyoos Indian Band. The Osoyoos Indian Band and BC Parks are working in partnership to ensure the long-term protection of the archaeological and cultural heritage resources within the park.
The Okanagan ancestral remains that were disturbed and reburied on site are the oldest on record in the Osoyoos region (approximately 1,224 years old). Radiocarbon testing of faunal (i.e. animal) materials recovered from a shell midden provided important information about the diet of the Osoyoos Indian Band’s Okanagan ancestors 3,265 – 4,475 years ago.
Flora
The park protects species and ecosystems at risk such as peach leaf willow, needle-and-thread grass and wetlands.
Fauna
The marsh area of the park is home to a variety of wildlife, including the western small-footed bat, barn owl, american spadefoot toad, painted turtle and tiger salamander.