1.3.1.8

Description: 
Establish Thaidene Nene Park
Lead Dept: 
ENR
Priority: 
1.3
Parent Commitment: 
1.3.1
Status: 
Fulfilled
Restructured COC: 
Economy and Environment
Number: 
8
Deputy Minister Committee: 
Economy and Environment
Background Information: 

ECONOMY, ENVIRONMENT AND CLIMATE CHANGE

Commitment 1.3.1 – Using the Land Use and Sustainability Framework to be clear and transparent, we will:
Establish Thaidene Nëné Park.

Parks Canada began pursuing the establishment of a national park in the East Arm of Great Slave Lake in the 1970s, which included an initial indeterminate land withdrawal of 7,340 km2. Subsequently, in 2007 an interim land withdrawal for this area was put in place, bringing the total withdrawal to 33,690 km2. Over the subsequent years, Łutsel K’e Dene First Nation (LKDFN) actively advanced the establishment of Thaidene Nëné (TDN) through negotiations with Parks Canada, leading to an initial establishment agreement between the parties in November 2013.

Since April 1, 2014, following Devolution, the GNWT has worked collaboratively with Parks Canada and interested Indigenous governments, including members of the Akaitcho First Nation (LKDFN, Deninu Kue First Nation, Yellowknives Dene First Nation), Northwest Territory Métis Nation, North Slave Métis Nation, and Tlicho Government on agreements toward the establishment of a Thaidene Nëné National Park Reserve and territorial protected and conservation areas (milestones 1, 2 and 4).

Public and stakeholder engagement has been sought by the GNWT throughout the process, including formal meetings in July 2015. A second set of formal meetings is being planned for winter 2018 to provide further updates.

The proposed consultation boundaries for TDN include approximately 14,000 km2 for the National Park Reserve and over 12,000 km2 for the territorial protected and conservation areas. TDN (federal and territorial combined) would increase total protection from 10% to 12% in the NWT and from 10% to 17% in the South Slave area.

Related Mandate Commitments:

  • Commitment 1.3.1 - Using the Land Use and Sustainability Framework to be clear and transparent, we will: Finalize and implement the Conservation Action Plan in order to finalize existing candidate protected areas.

  • Commitment 1.3.2 - In order to advance the territorial vision of land and resource management in accordance with the Land Use and Sustainability Framework, we will evolve our legislative, regulatory, and policy systems by: Developing and proposing amendments to the Territorial Parks Act