TTHEK'EHDELI/JEAN MARIE RIVER - A harvester and his family are objecting to Jean Marie River First Nation's plan to protect a series of five lakes.

Francis Nahanni, right, and his wife Violet Nahanni say Jean Marie River First Nation hasn't consulted them on including their traditional hunting and trapping area within the Five Fish Lakes conservation area. - Roxanna Thompson/NNSL photo

Francis Nahanni, who is originally from Jean Marie River but now lives in Fort Simpson, has been trapping around McGill Lake since the 1970s. Francis' extended family has a long-standing connection to the area and is believed to have ancestral graves near the lake.

McGill Lake and the connected body of water Deep Lake are two of the five lakes that Jean Marie River is seeking permanent protection for. The band is using the NWT Protected Areas Strategy to get the protection for the two areas that cover approximately 180 square kilometres and are known in Slavey as Lue Tue Sulia and in English as Five Fish Lakes.

Despite being the only person managing an active trapline around McGill Lake and having three cabins in the area Francis said the band hasn't consulted him about its plans.

"They should tell us before they do that," he said.

Last November the Department of Industry, Tourism and Investment agreed to sponsor Five Fish Lakes as a candidate cultural conservation area. If it received protection the area was expected to become a territorial park. Francis objects to that idea.

"Deep Lake and McGill Lake, we need that area for hunting and fishing," he said.

Francis said he's afraid if the area is turned into a territorial park more people including canoeists and snowmobilers will come to the lakes and animals will leave as a result. Francis also has a historical interest in Ekali Lake, one of the five lakes in the area. He said it would be fine to turn that area into a park so long as McGill and Deep Lake are left alone.

Cathy Nahanni, one of Francis's nieces, said she doesn't understand where the idea came from and why Jean Marie River wants to turn the area into a park.

"You can't save your culture and tradition by turning things into parks," she said.

The family isn't saying we own the area but that we've always been a part of it, Cathy said. The process the band is using is an underhanded attempt at taking over someone else's traditional hunting and trapping area, she said.

Kiatch Nahanni, another niece, is also concerned. Francis and his wife Violet aren't living at McGill Lake for economic or personal gain, she said. The couple, who spend the majority of their year at the lake, are following a way of life, she said.

Acting Chief Stan Sanguez of Jean Marie River First Nation said he doesn't understand why Francis is concerned.

"The main purpose of protecting the five lakes is the water," he said.

The band is concerned about protecting the lakes and the surrounding watershed from development said Sanguez, not in stopping first nation members from building cabins and living on the land.

"I'm supporting Francis out there. I don't think he should worry," Sanguez said.

Although the Department of Industry, Tourism and Investment is the sponsoring agency for Five Fish Lakes Sanguez said discussions are ongoing about whether the area will become a territorial park or have some other designation.

Regardless of the designation it receives Sanguez said it's not likely more people will come and visit the area. Five Fish Lakes would be managed by a working group, which would have to agree on anything that happens in the area, he said.

The band will be holding consultations in Fort Simpson to let people know what is being done in the area. People who have immediate concerns, however, should bring them to the band, said Sanguez.

"We're not shutting anybody out," he said.

We welcome your opinions. Click here to e-mail a letter to the editor.