The Gwich’in Tribal Council, Na-Cho Nyӓk Dun First Nation, Parks Canada, and the Yukon government are progressing to the feasibility stage of establishing a 3,000 square kilometer national park in the Teetł’it Gwinjik (Peel River) Watershed region.
Grand Chief Frederick (Sonny) Blake Jr. of the Gwich’in Tribal Council expressed the longstanding desire to protect this area, crucial for Porcupine caribou that winter there before migrating to their calving grounds in Alaska. He emphasized the community’s strong opposition to mining activities in the Peel watershed and highlighted the importance of safeguarding the region for future generations.
The proposed national park, initially proposed by the Gwich’in Tribal Council, is now undergoing a feasibility study to determine the viability of establishing a co-managed national park in northeast Yukon near the N.W.T. border, a significant development according to Blake. The area is vital to the Gwich’in Tribal Council and Na-Cho Nyӓk Dun for fishing and hunting, with its headwaters flowing into the Mackenzie River in Fort McPherson.
Efforts to protect the Peel watershed began 30 years ago and intensified in 2012 due to mining claims within the Gwich’in Settlement Area. Following the signing of the Peel land use plan in 2019, the Yukon government reached agreements with companies to relinquish thousands of claims in the Peel watershed, including the removal of additional mining claims from the proposed protected area.
Adriana Bacheschi, the director of national park establishment for Parks Canada, emphasized the environmental benefits of transforming the Teetł’it Gwinjik Watershed into a national park, providing critical protections for indigenous lands and wildlife habitats. The public consultation results showed strong support for the idea of a national park in the region.
Chief Dawna Hope of the Na-Cho Nyӓk Dun First Nation hailed the progress towards establishing the park as a significant milestone, highlighting the protections a national park would offer against detrimental activities like mineral staking, agriculture, and industry. Hope expressed optimism with the move into the feasibility stage, bringing hope and a sense of accomplishment amidst past challenges and land disruptions.
The proposed protected lands hold deep cultural significance, closely linked to traditional waterways, trails, and historic meeting places. Hope emphasized the importance of maintaining the cleanliness of the waters and preserving the wilderness to uphold indigenous language, culture, and traditions for future generations.
The work towards creating the national park has also fostered reconnections within families and communities, with elders reuniting across the Richardson Mountains. Hope underscored the significance of advocating for the full implementation of the Peel land use plan and the protection of these essential lands for future generations.