Significant Step to Permanently Protect Northern Heritage Jewel

DUC contributes to protected status of new National Historic Site in the NWT

Yellowknife, NWT., March 15, 2007—The Honourable John Baird, Minister of the Environment and Minister responsible for Parks Canada signed a landmark agreement between Parks Canada, the Déline First Nation and the Déline Land Corporation to work towards permanently protecting and cooperatively managing Sahoyúé - §ehdacho National Historic Site of Canada. The March 11th announcement stated that the Federal Government is funding $5 million over 5 years for initial development and $700,000 annually for ongoing operational costs of the site.

“Canada’s New Government is committed to the conservation of nationally significant heritage areas. Today, this step ensures the preservation of this cultural and natural treasure for present and future generations,” said Minister Baird. “Much of the credit for today’s announcement belongs to the Déline First Nation and their generous efforts a decade ago to bring these special landscapes forward for recognition as a national historic site. Since then, they have worked tirelessly with others to protect these special places for their children and at the same time to share them with all Canadians.”

“We are thrilled that the Government of Canada has taken this significant step towards permanent protection of Sahoyúé - §ehdacho, a sacred area to the people of Déline,” said Shannon Haszard, Northwest Territories Manager for Ducks Unlimited Canada (DUC). “DUC is a partner in the NWT Protected Areas Strategy which brings together Aboriginal communities, governments, industry and other conservation organizations to find a balance between protection and development. This announcement highlights the success of that partnership.”

Under the agreement, Parks Canada and the community of Déline commit to working to permanently protect the Sahoyúé - §ehdacho National Historic Site – an area of land the size of Prince Edward Island located on the shores of Great Bear Lake, the 9th largest lake in the world and the largest lake in Canada. This national historic site will be managed in a way that enables the Sahtugot’ine (people of Déline) to continue their traditional uses of the land and provides opportunities for Canadians to experience and appreciate the land and its heritage values. In 2001 and 2002, DUC conducted waterbird surveys in Sahoyúé - §ehdacho. Data from these surveys were included in the assessment process required to justify the area’s ecological and cultural importance.

“This agreement is a significant step in ensuring the lasting protection of Sahoyúé - §ehdacho National Historic Site and represents a number of firsts,” said the Honourable Jim Prentice, Minister of Indian Affairs and Northern Development. “Most importantly, this is the first heritage area established under the Protected Area Strategy of the Northwest Territories. With this, Canada’s New Government will ensure the long-term preservation of a unique part of Canada’s heritage.”

“The Sahoyúé - §ehdacho announcement is especially exciting as it is the first installment of a larger Northwest Territories conservation commitment that Minister Baird has spoken about previously,” said Ian Barnett, director of regional operations for DUC. Other sites being considered for protection through the NWT Protected Areas Strategy include Ts’ude niline Tu’eyeta (Ramparts River and Wetlands) and Edéhzhie (Horn Plateau and Mills Lake), two areas that include important wetland habitat and support hundreds of thousands of Canada’s waterfowl, song birds, and species at risk such as woodland caribou. “We eagerly anticipate announcements on the other sites by the federal government in the near future.”

For more information:

Anh Hoang
Marketing and Communications Specialist
Ducks Unlimited Canada
Phone: (780) 489-8110
Email: a_hoang@ducks.ca