DEH CHO
The territorial Department of Lands is still taking feedback on a draft framework that would update its management of recreational lands and cabin leases in the Northwest Territories.

The draft Recreational Land Management Framework was the subject of an open house in Fort Simpson, held Oct. 13 at the village recreation centre. There, participants were invited to write their thoughts on sticky notes and post them on a series of posters hanging from the wall, which listed the framework's six broad goals.

Some of those goals include modernizing current leasing practices and addressing unauthorized occupancy of public lands.

Priorities included in the goals include identifying new areas for recreational use, updating the department's fee structure and annual lease rent, and conducting policy and legislative reviews.

The open house was one of many being held across the territory in an effort by the department to find out if the framework reflects the priorities of residents, said Gina Ridgely, manager of sustainability.

"It's a broader framework, so we're looking to the public to give us some guidance - are we on the right track?" Ridgely said.

Initial public consultation on the framework began in early 2015 when the department held public meetings to find out what people thought were the biggest challenges with respect to recreational land use and cabins. That input, Ridgely said, formed the basis of the framework.

"It's really intended to give our own department some guidance. It's to provide greater clarity to our process," she said.

"It also includes an educational component that will provide more clear information to the public and greater transparency in our decision-making."

The framework would apply to all public lands in the Northwest Territories.

It would also adhere to existing agreements, such as the Deh Cho's interim measures agreement, Ridgely said.

"All of those things supersede the framework, so anything that would come out of the framework would adhere to those existing agreements," she said.

Speaking to the Deh Cho Drum on Oct. 17, Ridgely said the department has not yet had a chance to review the types of feedback it received from the Deh Cho open house.

However, early in the evening on Oct. 13, a few sticky notes had already been posted on the framework's proposed vision.

Those notes, which are anonymous, expressed concern over whether the document undermines the jurisdiction of Dehcho First Nations.

Notes also suggested the department take a long-term vision looking 20 or more years into the future, as well as weave an aboriginal perspective into the vision.

The current vision of the framework, which Ridgely admits is broad, states "The Northwest Territories will continue to have a diversity of outdoor settings, opportunities and places that enable Northerners to experience and enjoy Northern lands and waters in the ways that are most meaningful to them."

Ridgely said people who couldn't attend the open house still have an opportunity to provide input until the end of October. The department has posted a survey on its website, which is also available in print from the Department of Lands office.

The end of October is also the deadline for comments from formal consultation with aboriginal groups, which Ridgely said began in July and August.

"We would love to hear from people. The more feedback, the better," she said.

"If you missed the public meeting, you didn't miss the boat."

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