Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. [English translation not provided.]
The Protected Areas Strategy is a northern conservation tool. It was introduced to help communities identify highly valued areas and preserve them for lasting appreciation and enjoyment. Establishing a protected area under the Protected Areas Strategy involves a sevenstep process. It starts with the identification of an area and obtaining widespread support for its protection and eventual designation as a protected area with the full support for partners involved. These parties generally include First Nations, governments, and NGOs. Mr. Speaker, the strategy was put on hold for a period of time during devolution discussions. It has since made its comeback under the new title of the Conservation Area Network. Now Kakisa wants to move forward to establish their protected area. The proposed K’aagee Tu protected area covers 6,800 hectares within K’aagee Tu First Nation’s traditional land use occupancy area. It extends into the Cameron Hills, toward Trout Lake, Enterprise, and towards Beaver Lake. The original proposal in 2009 was for 9,605 hectares of land that included a large portion of the Kakisa watershed. It has now since been reduced to 71 per cent of the original area to remove areas of high oil and gas potential while still preserving the most important features of the watershed. Some of this area is withdrawn under the current Dehcho Interim Management Agreement. Governments have said that the K’aagee Tu protected area is consistent with the overall 60 per cent conservation and 40 per cent development land quantum ratio proposed for the NWT.
There have been overlapping interests from Fort Providence and the Hay River Reserve regarding the candidate area and concerns about the proposed wood pellet mill and regional woodland caribou population. Chief Chicot states that the GNWT supports Kakisa’s initiative and wants to move forward. He has made Kakisa’s intentions known to the Minister of Environment and Natural Resources. The community looks forward to hearing from the Minister and moving ahead to make significant progress toward establishing the K’aagee Tu protected area in the coming year. Mahsi, Mr. Speaker.
Masi. Members’ statements. Member for Kam Lake.
