With a list of twenty distinct groups to deal with, the task of engaging aboriginal communities more effectively in Jasper National Park might seem daunting at first. But with small, respectful steps, Park Superintendent Ron Hooper is confident that he and his staff are making progress on their journey.

“It’s happening to varying degrees,” Hooper says when asked to describe the status of JNP’s relationship with the various aboriginal groups that have a historic interest in the park. “We have very good working relations with about eight groups, and what we need to do is be in good contact with all of them.”

That’s more difficult than it sounds. Hooper, along with three other Parks administrators, devotes a portion of his time to working on aboriginal relations and engagement. Given that the effort has been identified as a priority for the entire agency, it’s the least Hooper can do. It isn’t enough, he says.

“We have a capacity issue with working with all of these groups. It’s hard to get time to spend understanding their viewpoints, first of all. We have a tremendous amount of work to do and it’s not something that happens overnight. It has to be consistent, sustained. There are four of us who spend as much time as we can, and really it is a process where you build personal relationships with these groups.”

Hooper knows a thing or two about building good relationships with aboriginal communities. Before coming to Jasper, Hooper worked at Gwaii Haanaas National Park in the Queen Charlotte Islands, and in Vancouver Island’s Pacific Rim National Park. In the more northerly location, Hooper worked closely with Haida people, while on the coast, he had six different band councils to deal with. While the aboriginal groups were located either right in the parks or on their borders in B.C. getting into direct contact with aboriginal leaders and elders can be more of a challenge in Jasper, where the interested groups are scattered across the rolling landscape of northern Alberta.

“We’ve done it opportunistically,” Hooper says. “Some groups have approached us, we’ve made contacts through the Foothills Model Forest, some we have approached.”

Attempts have been made to bring representatives from all 20 groups to Jasper, but arranging such a meeting has proved difficult.

“We want to put something collaborative together when it comes to the management planning process,” Hooper says. “It’s not acceptable to just send them a technical report and ask for comments.”

The park has engendered a close working relationship with the Metis Nation of Alberta, creating the fire crew program for Metis youth and using Metis expertise to consult on the FireSmart program. It’s a model for their work with other groups, Hooper says.

“I’m very proud of our relationship that we have with the MNA,” he says. “But it’s not inclusive of all the groups we need to deal with. A park like Jasper has a number of complexities and we need to continue to work towards a relationship with all the groups.”

Setting up collaborative programs is one thing, but Hooper, and Parks Canada in general, has bolder goals for aboriginal involvement with Parks.

“We want to develop a chance for them to tell their story in the Park, in their own voice. We’ve had interpretive programs at the campground theatres and had groups involved in the Grade 10 stewardship classes,” he says.

With the process underway for the 2008 management plan, Hooper has high hopes for the involvement of aboriginal groups.

“One of the key things we need to measure our progress on is through engagement in the planning process,” he says. “2008 will be better than the last time, and in five years it will be better again.”

Hooper might be pleased with progress to this point, but he’s clearly not resting on his laurels.

“One of the issues we face is that oftentimes people speak with great intentions but then can’t follow through on promises. We were very concious of this, and that’s why we have started small and sought to grow.”