Gwich’in look to new national park for ‘land-based economy’

The Gwich’in Tribal Council is among groups exploring the feasibility of establishing a new national park in the Peel Watershed.

Monday’s announcement, on Gwich’in Day and Earth Day, envisages turning the Peel River corridor, Turner Lake Wetlands and Caribou River into a 3,000 sq km national park.

The Gwich’in Tribal Council says it is assessing the possibility of a new park with the First Nation of Nacho Nyak Dun, the Yukon Government and the federal government.

Ottawa said any new park would be “co-developed and co-managed.”

“As we work to reconnect our future generations to this vital landscape, it is our intention that a national park can assist in reconciling our relationship with Canada by sharing this unique ecosystem to Canada and abroad through preservation and the creation of a land-based economy in our traditional territory,” Grand Chief Ken Kyikavichik of the Gwich’in Tribal Council was quoted as saying.

Chief Dawna Hope of the First Nation of Nacho Nyak Dun said the vision of a park was “vindication for all the work of our Elders and citizens” in negotiating a final agreement for the First Nation and “tirelessly advocating for protection of the Peel.”

No timeline was set out for next steps, though a news release tied the possible creation of a park to Canada’s aim of conserving 30 percent of the nation’s land and water by 2030.

“As we have said so often over the past 20 years, the Peel is an area of unparalleled cultural and spiritual value for our people. It is our place of refuge,” said Chief Hope.

“We look forward to collaborating with our Gwich’in cousins and the governments of Canada and Yukon to co-manage the lands in the Peel in a way that ensures those lands are respected and protected for all time.”