Highlight of 2009: Nahanni Expansion!

Camping on the karst cliffs above Death Lake, a large sinkhole lake in the Nahanni North Karst, Nahanni Expansion Area.
© Parks Canada

Expanding a national park reserve requires vision, cooperation and hard work. In June 2009, the Government of Canada — in cooperation with Dehcho First Nations — announced that Nahanni National Park Reserve had been expanded to almost six times its original size. On Parliament Hill, the House of Commons and the Senate united in their support of the bill expanding Nahanni. As a result, the bill passed and received Royal Assent all in just one week! The Honourable Jim Prentice, Minister of the Environment called the expansion “... the most significant conservation achievement in a generation.”

Dehcho First Nations and Parks Canada have a strong co-operative arrangement to manage Nahanni National Park Reserve. This successful relationship played a vital role in the realization of the dream of expanding Nahanni. From this foundation of trust and respect, Parks Canada and Dehcho First Nations will work together into the future to manage the expanded national park reserve.

The new boundary for Nahanni protects more than 30,000 km² of crucial habitat for grizzly bears, woodland caribou and Dall’s sheep. Natural wonders include the length of the South Nahanni River within the Dehcho Region of the NWT, as well as the highest mountains and largest glaciers in the NWT. For the first time, the globally significant caves, canyons, rock towers, poljes and sinkholes of the Nahanni Karst are protected within the boundaries of the national park reserve.

A Gift to Canadians – and the world!

Nahanni National Park Reserve is world famous. The massive expansion of Nahanni has enormous ecological and cultural significance for Canadians and will enhance the protection of this UNESCO World Heritage Site. There is great potential for new types of visitor experiences for all sorts of travellers, from those seeking cultural experiences to those in search of the adventure of a lifetime. Many places in the watershed are sacred to Dehcho First Nations people and traditional use of the land is an honoured practice in Nahanni National Park Reserve. The Dene laws of sharing and of respect for others, the land and the animals are still practiced.

Celebrating the Expansion

Achieving the expansion of Nahanni National Park Reserve would not have been possible without the vision, cooperation and dedication of Elders and chiefs from Dehcho First Nations.

Mount Harrison Smith reflected in the still waters of Glacier Lake, Nahanni Expansion Area.
© Parks Canada

The Government of Canada and the Dehcho people worked together and gave their understanding and time to protect both the land and water for future generations, while making a gift to Canadians and the world in the process. Months later, Parks Canada continues to receive congratulatory letters and emails from Canadians, conservation organizations, and international supporters in recognition of this landmark conservation achievement. In addition, over 1,200 delegates to the 9^th World Wilderness Congress in Mexico gave Minister Prentice a standing ovation in recognition of this significant global conservation achievement. Clearly, the world has recognized and responded to efforts undertaken by Canada to better protect Nahanni National Park Reserve of Canada, one of the first natural areas designated a World Heritage Site.