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Cultural heritage resources and chance find procedure for mines in B.C.

Last updated on July 16, 2026

Ground disturbing activities, including many exploration activities, have the potential of unearthing artifacts (such as stone tools), sites (such as pit houses or burial sites) or other heritage resources. 

On this page

Legislation

  • The Heritage Conservation Act recognizes the historical, cultural, scientific, spiritual, and educational value of archaeological sites to First Nations, local communities, and the public
  • Section 10(1) of the Mines Act requires mining proponents to prepare a plan for the protection of cultural heritage resources

​Purpose

Indigenous Cultural Heritage Resources (ICHRs) are sacred sites, artifacts, and traditional use areas that are important to Indigenous communities. This page informs applicants of their responsibilities under the Mines Act for protecting ICHRs.

All Notice of Work (NoW) applications must contain a plan to protect Indigenous Cultural Heritage Resources.

What you need to do

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Learn about cultural heritage

Indigenous cultural heritage resources (ICHRs) may be in your project area. These can include: 

  • Village or settlement sites
  • Hunting and fishing camps
  • Trails and canoe routes
  • Areas that support culturally important species
  • Culturally modified trees 
  • Burial sites and ancestral remains 
  • Rock art (pictographs and petroglyphs) 

Contact Archaeology Branch for information about potential heritage resources in your project area.

Best practice for applicants is to confirm potentially affected First Nation overlaps with the corresponding regional mines office prior to engagement. Early engagement with Indigenous communities is the best way to identify these resources.

 

Create a protection plan

A Cultural Heritage Resource Protection Plan explains how you will identify, protect, and care for cultural sites, resources, and traditions. The plan requires working with Indigenous communities and planning ahead.

Your plan should explain: 

  • How your activities may encounter cultural sites and areas that matter to First Nation communities
  • How you will talk and plan with First Nations before starting work
  • Steps to avoid or minimize impacts, like setting boundaries or changing timing
  • How you will reclaim areas after exploration or mining
  • What you’ll do if you find something new and how you’ll keep it safe. Such as a chance find procedure

Sometimes cultural heritage resources are discovered during work. To prepare for this, all permits require an Archaeological Chance Find Procedure. An archaeological chance find procedure is one component of your cultural heritage resource protection plan that you will submit as part of your application documents.

Not all cultural values are archaeological. For example, berry-picking areas or spiritual sites may need special protection. You may need extra plans for wildlife, water, cultural heritage, or access. 

 

Follow permit conditions

In addition to your cultural heritage resource plan, inspectors may include one or more conditions in your Mines Act permit aimed at mitigating potential impacts to cultural heritage resources. These conditions may also serve as accommodations for First Nations, such as having monitors on site or having areas pre-cleared by traditional knowledge keepers.

 

Provide financial security

You may need to provide a bond (financial security) to the Ministry of Finance to provide for protection of, and mitigation of damage to, watercourses and cultural heritage resources affected by a mine. This ensures: 

  • Funds are available to reclaim areas after the completion of work if you walk away, go bankrupt, or otherwise fail to meet reclamation obligations. The province can use the bond to complete the required reclamation work
  • A financial guarantee that you will meet all reclamation commitments throughout the life of the mine, not just at closure
  • Environmental values and public safety can be reclaimed or stabilized, reducing long-term risks such as erosion, water contamination, or unsafe structures

Securities may be required at the start of the permit process if cultural heritage resources are known to be present. Securities may also be adjusted if new cultural heritage resources are found or damage occurs.

 

 

Guidance documents are to assist mining clients with their permit application and requirements.

Contact information

Mines contact information:

  • Regional mines offices
  • Mines incident reporting
  • Mines inquiries and complaints
  • Geological survey
  • Major mines
  • Mine health and safety
  • Mines auditing
  • Mineral titles