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Protecting the Peel Gwich’in from NWT, Yukon and Alaska sign resolution to protect Peel WatershedKassina Ryder Northern News Services Published Tuesday, Aug. 7, 2012
“The Gwich’in people would like to see full protection of the Peel River Watershed from industrial activity and infrastructure,” the resolution stated. James Andre, a member of the elders’ council and the Tetlit Gwich’in Renewable Resources Council in Fort McPherson, said possible legal action could be taken against the Yukon government if it fails to adequately protect the area. “I think we have legal grounds to fight it, too,” said Andre, “You don’t want to go there, but if we have to, that’s what’s going to happen.” The watershed’s future is being determined by the Yukon government and the four affected First Nation governments -- the First Nation of Na-Cho Nyak Dun, Tr’ondek Hwech’in First Nation and the Vuntut Gwitchin First Nation, as well as the Tetlit Gwich’in Council. The Peel River Watershed Planning Commission, which represented all parties involved, released its final recommendations for the region’s land use plan in 2011. It recommended protecting 80 per cent of the watershed. Fifty-five per cent would be protected permanently and the remaining 25 per cent would be reviewed every few years. While First Nations governments originally wanted 100 per cent protection, Andre said he believes 80 per cent is a compromise – but added that’s as low as they are willing to go. “We’re not going lower than 80 per cent,” he said. The First Nations and territorial governments were to work together to finalize the plan. Representatives from all parties signed a letter of understanding in January 2011. But in February, 2012, the Yukon government released a series of eight principles it says will help guide the territory’s decision. First Nations were not consulted before the principles were released. Critics said the guidelines should have been discussed throughout the planning process instead of being tacked on after the final recommendations were released. Outfitters in the Yukon distributed a media release condemning the principles, saying they “would allow for unfettered access to large scale mining interests and road access.” Currently there are more than 8,400 active mineral claims in the Peel River Watershed, said Karen Baltgailis, the executive director of The Yukon Conservation Society. She said the release of the guidelines created a strong backlash not just from First Nation governments, but throughout the Yukon. “They didn’t tell the affected First Nations they were developing these principles,” she said. “The kickback was just enormous.” The YCS is a member of the Protect the Peel Campaign, along with the Canadian Parks and Wilderness Society, First Nations governments and conservation groups. Impact on First Nations The watershed is roughly the size of New Brunswick and is considered one of the greatest natural ecosystems on Earth. Andre said he has travelled to areas where coal bed methane mining and other projects have ravaged landscapes and polluted waterways, including Colorado and Wyoming. “I went to look at mining, I’ve seen this with my own eyes,” he said. “When I was in Wyoming, I saw contaminated rivers. I saw fish, but they said, ‘don’t eat the fish, they’re contaminated’.” He said he fears the same will happen if development were permitted within the watershed. “This is one of the only places in the world that’s pristine, that’s never been touched,” he said. “You don’t want to lose that, we need to fight to the end to protect that.” Timeline The plan’s final public consultations have been delayed since April and have yet to take place. Baltgailis said they were last scheduled for June, but those too were delayed. Now, it is believed consultations could take place in the fall, with a final decision some time in 2013. Baltgailis also said because of enormous public support to protect the Peel, she believes legal action is a probability if the government discards or makes excessive amendments to the plan. “If the government tries to drastically alter or reject it, this will almost certainly end up in court,” she said. According to a DataPath survey on the Protect the Peel Campaign’s website, nearly 80 per cent of Yukon respondents said they wanted the majority of the watershed protected from development. Andre said he hopes community consultations will take place before Christmas. “I would like to host workshops so when they come, they will hear with one voice how disappointed we are with what’s happening,” he said. Until then, he said he is ready. “I’m going to fight till I die to protect this area,” he said. The final decision rests with the Yukon government.
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