Dallas Harvey, left, and Evan Nivingalok, both with Kugluktuk Hunter and Trappers, with Keiran Panioyak and Gerry Atatahak, both with the Department of Environment's parks division, and Braydon Pedersen, with Kugluktuk Hunters and Trappers, work on Kugluk (Bloody Falls) Territorial Park trail upgrade this past summer. - photo courtesy of Nunavut Parks and Special Places |
Kugluk finally becoming park
Rich history in area known as Bloody Falls near Kugluktuk
Michele LeTourneau
Northern News Services
Monday, November 23, 2015
KUGLUKTUK/COPPERMINE
At long last, Kugluk (Bloody Falls) Territorial Park is on track to officially become a park.
Although some formalities need to be completed over the next two years, trails were upgraded with wooden walkways this past summer and hundreds of people have visited the area.
The Government of the Northwest Territories first identified the area located east and west of the Coppermine River about 13 km outside of Kugluktuk in the 1960s.
Colin Adjun, a long-time member of the park advisory committee, couldn't be happier about progress with the park.
"(The area) is very important," said Adjun. "There are many stories from years ago about Bloody Falls from elders. Some of them are sad."
Premier Peter Taptuna, during the last session of the legislative assembly, spoke about the park.
"(Kugluktuk) was built at the mouth of the famous Coppermine River where Samuel Hearne recorded the massacre of many Inuit, hence its name Bloody Falls," he said.
The 10.5-square-km piece of land was designated a National Historic Site in 1978.
But the area is about more than a tragedy, as Adjun notes. It's a spectacular char fishing spot. He tells the story of a fisher who fell of the cliff and was saved by another fisher who "hooked something heavy."
"He knew right away it was not a fish. He hooked that guy. He continued pulling and saved his life."
Adjun says there are many amazing stories.
"I'm very happy it's being fixed for visitors. They did a great job. The community is very happy about that," he said.
Rebecca Torretti, the Kitikmeot region's park's co-ordinator for planning and operations, explained park facilities include a portage trail, interpretive and regulatory signage, picnic furnishings, such as tables, benches and fire pits, and an outhouse.
"Since the 1990s there has been a strong and sustained community desire to minimize the extent and level of development at the park in order to preserve the park landscape," said Torretti. "This is reflected in the park's master and management plans, and is taken into consideration when we are doing any sort of development-related work."
The territories divided before the park could be officially created, which is the reason for the long delay.
While much of the original work remains, an Inuit Impact Benefit Agreement between the Government of Nunavut and Nunavut Tunngavik Inc. and the regional Inuit associations details additional requirements for territorial parks to be consistent with the Nunavut Land Claims Agreement.
"Those need to be met before establishment is complete. Those are some of the things we need to catch up the older parks on. It's all pretty technical," said Torretti.
To complicate matters, although much of the original work in master planning and management planning was done, a lot of time has passed and these need to be finished, including extensive consultation..
The formal land transfer also needs to be completed.
However, much of the work being done now falls into the fifth and final stage of the park creation process. Facilities are fabricated and installed, interpretive planning takes place and signage is developed.
Torretti says the normal process for new parks now should only take about 10 years. Kugluk (Bloody Falls) will like officially open in a couple of years.
Last year the park attracted about 780 visits from residents and 75 visitors coming through from elsewhere, usually by way of the Coppermine River.
