Red Lake, Ontario, July 20, 2010 – The Honourable Jim Prentice, Minister of the Environment and Minister responsible for Parks Canada, along with Ms. Linda Jeffrey, Minister of Natural Resources today announced the unveiling of a Canadian Heritage River System (CHRS) plaque commemorating the Bloodvein River’s outstanding natural and cultural values. The ceremony took place at Red Lake Regional Heritage Centre.
“It is a privilege to officially commemorate the Bloodvein River as a Canadian Heritage River. This dedication is a prime example of our government's ongoing commitment toward conserving Canada’s rivers and recognizing their importance to our country’s cultural, environmental and recreational heritage” said the Honourable Jim Prentice, Minister of the Environment and Minister responsible for Parks Canada.
The Bloodvein River provides habitat for one hundred bird species and a wide variety of plant, animals and fish, including threatened and endangered species such as wolverines, woodland caribou and spike moss. The area’s natural features include outstanding representations of the Canadian Shield and the Central Boreal Upland Forest and exceptional cultural features such as undisturbed archaeological sites that provide evidence of hunter-gatherer peoples dating from 6,000 years ago, pictographs dating from between 900 and 1200 AD, and a rich history as an aboriginal and fur trade route. The river remains important to the Lac Seul and Pikangikum First Nations to this day.
“We are proud to work in partnership with the province of Ontario and with local Elders to create a plaque commemorating the designation of the Bloodvein as a Canadian Heritage River,” said Minister Prentice. “This designation is a testament to this exceptional river and its ongoing importance to our First Nations partners, its role in our nation’s history and its extraordinary natural heritage and landscape.”
"The dedication of Canadian Heritage River demonstrates our continued commitment to the conservation of the Bloodvein River and the vital history of this waterway and the communities it serves," said Ms. Jeffrey. “We value the guidance and wise advice we received from Elders from Pikangikum First Nation, Lac Seul First Nation and Ontario Parks.”
Composed of 37 designated heritage rivers, the Canadian Heritage Rivers System is Canada’s national river conservation program. The objectives of this cooperative federal-provincial territorial program are to give national recognition to Canada’s outstanding rivers and to ensure their long-term management to conserve their natural, cultural and recreational values.
Information:
Frédéric Baril
Press Secretary
Office of the Minister of the Environment
819-997-1441
http://twitter.com/JimPrentice
Media Relations
Parks Canada
819-994-3023
http://twitter.com/parkscanada
Backgrounder associated with this News Release.
Bloodvein River Celebrated as a Canadian Heritage River
