Experiences (Newsletter)

Protecting Nááts'ihch'oh

Headwaters of the South Nahanni

The roar of the South Nahanni River in the Northwest Territories is an ode to nature, a powerful melodic tribute to the spirit of place.

In April 2008, Nááts’ihch’oh (pronounced “Naa tseen ch-o”) became Canada’s newest national park reserve proposal. Covering one-sixth of the South Nahanni headwaters, the proposal includes key calving grounds for woodland caribou and important habitat for grizzly bears, both species at risk whose survival requires large, intact ecosystems.

Mount Wilson looms over the Mooseponds near the headwaters of the South Nahanni River.
© Doug Tate, Parks Canada, 2006

Once established, this new national park reserve will help ensure the conservation of a part of the Mackenzie Mountains natural region of Canada. It would also protect the ecological integrity of the area and offer new opportunities for visitors. Parks Canada is working co-operatively and respectfully with the designated Sahtú organizations (land corporations) established under the land claim agreement to represent the Dene and Métis of the Tulita District.

The South Nahanni River watershed is an incredibly beautiful and ecologically important area. It has long been home to the Dene and Métis, and it is a launching area for adventurous visitors to the wilderness. As they hike, canoe and climb, visitors from the rest of Canada and beyond will have the opportunity to discover the spectacular landscapes and the cultural history of the area.

Nááts’ihch’oh, a reference to the feature also known as Mount Wilson, is a Slavey name that means “pointed like a porcupine quill.” The area is culturally and spiritually significant to the Sahtu Dene and Métis people. The national park reserve proposal also includes the Broken Skull River and the Little Nahanni River, two other significant canoe routes.

The proposed Nááts’ihch’oh national park reserve would complement the proposed expansion of Nahanni National Park Reserve which may encompass most of the balance of the watershed. In 1978, Nahanni National Park Reserve was among the first sites in the world to be granted World Heritage status by the United Nations.

Named for the Naha, a tribe of fierce warriors who mysteriously vanished from the valley, the Nahanni is a dangerous river that commands respect.