Thaidene Nn draft plan outlines how N.W.T. park will be managed

The board representing theThaidene Nn Indigenous Protected Area has released a plan detailinghow it will manage the area,and it's asking for the public inputon that plan.

Thaidene Nn, the N.W.T.'s newest national park which was established in 2019, also includesa territorial protected areaand a territorial wildlife conservation area.

The draft plan,Thadene Nn bad x which isreferred to as a"relationship plan" rather than a management plan,includes usage restrictions fora few sites that are of cultural importance.

"Preservation is the key consideration," the plan says of thoserestricted areas.

According to the draft plan, the area issplit into three zones with sites in zone 1 either fully restricted, or partially accessible withsome restrictions. No motorized access is allowed in these sites.

Sites completely off limits to the public include Desnthche, an area used every summer for spiritual gatherings for people from utsl K', according to the draft plan.

Dzn Kn (Rat Lodge) and Ts Kn (Beaver Lodge) are other restricted areas as they are considered sacred.

Another completely restricted site is an island in Timber Bay where Gahdle, a powerful medicine man, is buried.

Parry Falls, a scenicwaterfall, can only be accessed with permission from utsl K' Dene First Nation. The restricted area stretches from the south end of Artillery Lake to the mouth of the Lockhart Riverand includes the islands in the area.

Licensed guides from a signatory Indigenous government will be allowed touse motorized boats for tours at the mouth of the Lockhart River, the plan says.Access is also prohibited in the river corridor.

Areas that the public can access withapproval and a guide includesome former village sites on the Lockhart River and in Timber Bay.

Zone 2 comprises the majority of the park andincludesareaswhere "visitors have opportunities to experience the living landscape in remote areas with few to no services or facilities."

Motorized access isn't permitted unless by snowmobile or by charter or private jets that land on water bodies.

Zone 3 includes areas managed as natural environments, includingGreat Slave Lake and Stark Lake, where motorized traffic is allowed, as are some commercial leases.

Visitors can use the zone 3 waterways to access zone 2 shorelines, the plan says.

This is the first plan for the management ofThaidene Nn, meaning what is included will be foundational, the draft plan says.If approved, the plan would be in effect until 2034.

Other objectives outlined in the plan include usingDene Yat, the Indigenous language, in governance, planningand community engagementsand ensuring young people can learn from their elders.

The operations of the park are the responsibility of the utsl K' Dene First Nation, Northwest Territory Mtis Nation, Parks Canadaand the Government of Northwest Territories.

Deninu K First Nation and Yellowknives Dene First Nationalso play a role in Thaidene Nnthrough agreements.

There will be public engagement sessions about the draft plan, including in Fort Smith on April 9, Fort Resolution on April 10, and Hay River on April 11.

The N.W.T. government's online feedback portal is available until April 20. Parks Canada's website says people can submit their thoughts up until April 28.

Both websites say the feedback will be used to help shape the plan.