Nááts’įhch’oh National Park Reserve Management Plan Tabled in Parliament

News Release

Parks Canada announces plan to connect Canadians to nature in NWT’s Sahtu Region


December 14, 2017          Tulita, Northwest Territories                      Parks Canada Agency

The first management plan for Nááts’įhch’oh National Park Reserve was tabled in Parliament recently. Management plans are a legislative requirement of the Canada National Parks Act and guide the management of Parks Canada’s places. The plan – the first for Nááts’įhch’oh - was developed jointly with the Sahtu Dene and Metis of the Tulita District, with whom Parks Canada co-operatively manages the park.

Canada’s national parks are gateways to nature, adventure, and discovery.

The new plan for Nááts’įhch’oh National Park Reserve outlines a number of key objectives:

·    Support and encourage use and access by the Sahtu Dene and Metis of the Tulita District

·    Ensure cultural values and traditional knowledge shape Park operations

·    Take care of the land and waters, and regularly measure the health of the Park

The plan was developed through public consultation and based on input from local residents and organizations, visitors, stakeholders, partners, and Indigenous communities. Through this management plan, Parks Canada is meeting its promise to protect and present Canada’s natural heritage while also providing an opportunity for Canadians to experience and discover our environment in new and exciting ways.

As we celebrate the 150th anniversary of Confederation throughout 2017, the Government of Canada invites Canadians to learn more about our environment. Canada’s national parks have played a big part in the celebration of Canada 150.

The Nááts’įhch’oh National Park Reserve Management Plan is available for viewing on the Parks Canada’s website at https://www.pc.gc.ca/en/pn-np/nt/naatsihchoh.

Quotes

“Canada’s national parks, national historic sites, and national marine conservation areas belong to all Canadians and offer truly Canadian experiences. As the Minister responsible for Parks Canada, I applaud this collaborative effort and I am pleased to approve this management plan for Nááts’įhch’oh National Park Reserve.”

Catherine McKenna,
Minister of Environment and Climate Change and Minister responsible for Parks Canada

Quick Facts

  • Nááts’įhch’oh National Park Reserve is Canada’s 44th national park, and is 4,895 square kilometers in size.

  • When combined with the adjacent Nahanni National Park Reserve, the size of the two parks totals almost 35,000 square kilometers. The park reserves together protect 86 per cent of the South Nahanni River watershed.

  • Travellers on the South Nahanni River, a Canadian Heritage River, can start their journey in the Moose Ponds of Nááts’įhch’oh (Mount Wilson), the mountain after which the national park reserve is named. “Nááts’įhch’oh” is the Shúhtaot’ine language description of this mountain, referring to its unique shape, which is sharp and pointed on the top like a porcupine quill.

  • Parks Canada will consult on an Ecological Integrity Management Plan for Nááts’ihch’oh in spring 2018 as a priority next step in the management planning process.

Associated Links

Contacts

Tim Gauthier
Partnering, Engagement and Communications Officer
Southwest NWT Field Unit
867-872-7957
tim.gauthier@pc.gc.ca


Media Relations
Parks Canada Agency
1-855-862-1812
pc.media@pc.gc.ca

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