Background
The magnificent Sapper Ranges of the Mackenzie Mountains, within the proposed national park reserve.© Parks Canada / C. Bucher, 2009The process and requirements for creating a new national park or national park reserve within the Sahtu Settlement Area is defined in Chapter 16 of the Sahtu Dene and Métis Comprehensive Agreement (1993), including negotiation of an Impact and Benefit Plan.
In February 2008, the Government of Canada temporarily protected an area of 7,600 square kilometres for the proposed Nááts'ihch'oh National Park Reserve, while the park proposal is being developed and considered. This means that no new leases or mining claims can be granted in this area until March 2012. Existing third party interests are not affected by the withdrawal.
Nááts’ihch’oh Announcement, April 7, 2008. Front row: Parliamentary Secretary (Environment) Mark Warawa, Minister John Baird, Chief Frank Andrew, Fort Norman Métis Land Corporation President Rocky Norwegian and Parliamentary Secretary (INAC) Ron Bruinooge. Visible in back row: Tulita youth representative Lindsay Norwegian, Parks Canada CEO Alan Latourelle and Tulita elder Leon Andrew. © Canadian Parks and Wilderness Society / J. Sturdy, 2009
In April 2008, Parks Canada announced the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the designated Sahtu organizations established under the land claim agreement representing the Dene and Métis of the Tulita District, and opened negotiations to complete an Impact and Benefit Plan. The Plan will, among other things, address the continuation of Sahtu Dene and Métis harvesting rights in the national park reserve, economic and employment opportunities in the Tulita District and the cooperative management of the national park reserve. Negotiations involve the Tulita District Nááts'ihch'oh Working Group made up of Sahtu Dene and Métis representatives from the land corporations, renewable resources councils and the Tulita Dene Band, as well as youth and Elders. The Government of the Northwest Territories has been involved in the discussions.
Regional Overview© Parks CanadaView larger version of the map in PDF format (2.45 MB)
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