It has been the center of a long legal battle over land-use planning for years, but now Yukon’s Peel Basin region could be home to a new national park.
“This is a very rich ecosystem, but it’s also been our homeland for thousands of years, and it’s important to us that we protect it,” said Grand Chief of the Gwich’in Tribal Council, which is leading the effort. , said Ken Kajkawiczyk.
“Being a national park candidate also allows us to tell our story.”
On Monday, a feasibility study for the park was released with the Gwich’in Tribal Council, Nacho Nyaku Dun First Nation, and the governments of Canada and Yukon Territory.
Once established, the park would consist of approximately 3,000 square kilometers of protected land within the traditional territories of the Gwich’in and Nacho Nyakudung rivers, the Peel River corridor, the Turner Lake Wetlands, and the Cariboo River region. These areas were set aside for permanent protection under the Peel Basin Regional Land Use Plan.
The Peel Basin Plan was signed into law in 2019 after years of legal battles over the extent of the no-development zone. The dispute ended in 2017 with a Supreme Court of Canada decision, which was heralded as a victory for the three First Nations who fought the case.
“Peel is an area of unique cultural and spiritual value to my people, and Peel is a place of refuge and inspiration for us. We have protected that area for quite some time. ” said Na Cho Nyak Chief Donna Hope. Boom.
Nacho Nyak Dan Chief Donna Hope says Peel is an area of ”unparalleled cultural and spiritual value to our people.” (Chris McIntyre/CBC)
The new park will be co-developed and co-managed, according to a joint news release issued Monday by Parks Canada, the Yukon government and the two First Nations governments of Gwich’in Tribal Council and Nacho Nyakudung. Indigenous people.
Kiikawiczyk said the idea has been discussed for decades.
“This allows us to promote Tietwit Gwynjik, or Peel River as it is now known, as a place that people can use as a destination for tourist activities,” Mr Kikavicik said.
“It will also allow us to provide employment to our citizens.”
Kikwiczyk said the park’s headquarters could be in Fort McPherson, N.W., near where the Peel River empties into the Mackenzie River. He said many details about the park are still being worked out.
“We’re not expecting a lot of hurdles. What we’ve found through this process so far is a lot of common ground with the parties at the table, and a desire to establish protections in this area. “This is a common goal,” he said.
“We’re not starting from scratch. There’s been a lot of discussion and a lot of dialogue, but we’re really looking forward to hitting the ground running and hopefully getting this done within the next few years.” ”
There are currently three established national parks in Yukon: Kluane National Park and Reserve, Ivavik National Park, and Buntut National Park.
