Tahltan Nation announce Landmark Collaboration on Phase 1 Land Use Plan with Province of BC
Press Release
June 3, 2025 – The Tahltan Nation is pleased to announce that it has agreed to formally begin collaborating with the province of BC on a Phase 1 Land Use Plan, a significant milestone in advancing Tahltan stewardship goals.
The Tahltan Nation has developed and finalized a Tahltan Stewardship Plan (TSP) through the Tahltan Stewardship Initiative (TSI). The Tahltan Stewardship Plan outlines Tahltan principles for caring for and stewarding all land within Tahltan Territory.
During the July 2024 Annual General Assembly of the Tahltan Nation in Dease Lake, British Columbia, the Tahltan Stewardship Plan titled “Keep Our Trails Open” was presented and approved by the assembly.
With the approval of the Tahltan Stewardship Plan – after a decade of work including engaging our people – the Tahltan Nation is progressing to the next phase, with the Tahltan Stewardship Plan serving as our guiding light.
The next 12 months will center on a collaborative Phase 1 Land Use Plan process, guided by the Tahltan Stewardship Plan which aims to conserve and permanently protect vital areas like Klappan, Level Mountain, Sheslay, and Tahltan Lake. It also seeks to enhance co-management and shared governance tools to sustainably manage resource development.
“The Tahltan Nation welcomes this collaborative Phase 1 Land Use Plan as a significant step towards sustainable development and reconciliation. Our position is and will remain unwavering: to ensure our culturally sensitive areas, such as Level Mountain, Klappan, Sheslay, and Tahltan Lake, are off-limits to development. We are committed to ensuring our air, fish, land, water and wildlife are protected, and to establishing co-management protocols for responsible resource development within Tahltan Territory.” President Beverly Slater, Tahltan Central Government
“Collaborating with the province on Phase 1 Land Use Planning, based on our Tahltan Stewardship Plan, is extremely important to our people, as it will allow the Tahltan Nation to protect our critical fishing grounds and salmon habitats, preserve culturally significant wildlife areas and protect ecologically sensitive sites crucial for maintaining our traditional practices and ensuring food security.” Chief Marie Quock, Iskut Band
“Our people have long sought protection for sacred areas like Klappan, Level Mountain, Sacred Headwaters, Sheslay, and Tahltan Lake, in a manner meaningful to the Tahltan people. We have now established a process with the province whereby we can permanently protect our sacred areas from industry while enabling Tahltan management for cultural access.” Chief Richard (Rocky) Jackson, Tahltan Band
QUESTION AND ANSWERS
Question: Didn’t we recently complete a Land Stewardship Plan (Tahltan Stewardship Plan) that was approved by the Nation? Why are we revisiting this again?
Answer: The Tahltan Stewardship Plan is our land use vision that outlines Tahltan allowable land uses. The Tahltan Stewardship Plan will be the basis upon which the Tahltan Nation will collaborate and negotiate with the province on a Phase 1 Land Use Plan.
Question: How will the Phase 1 Land Use Plan be different from the Tahltan Stewardship Plan?
Answer: The Phase 1 Land Use Plan will be advancing Tahltan Stewardship Plan (TSP) core priorities and stewardship goals in a joint plan with the province. For example, the Tahltan Stewardship Plan aims to conserve and protect vital areas like Klappan, Level Mountain, Sheslay, and Tahltan Lake. It also seeks to enhance co-management and shared governance tools for sustainable resource development. The Tahltan Stewardship plan will be the guiding light for the Tahltan Nation to build conservation, resource management, and protection strategies to be used by both governments for the Phase 1 Land Use Plan area.
Question: Why is the Phase 1 Land Use Plan for only part of Tahltan Territory? What does this mean for the rest of the Territory that is not covered by the Phase 1 Land Use Plan?
Answer: The province has proposed to concentrate initially on the Nation’s core area – which includes Klappan, Level Mountain, Sheslay, and Tahltan Lake – through government-to-government engagement. Subsequently, co-management obligations, conservation management, and land use guidelines can be extended to other areas of the Nation as the TSP will be our guiding document for these areas until they are brought in under the Tahltan-BC Land Use Plan.
Question: Does the Phase 1 Land Use Plan mean we will be protecting the Sheslay and Klappan Sacred Headwaters?
Answer: The Phase 1 Land Use Plan area is the Nation’s core area, which includes Klappan, Level Mountain, Sheslay and Tahltan Lake, among other such areas. In this designated area, there will be a one-year moratorium on new staking activities. This timeframe will enable negotiations with the province to establish permanent protection measures for our sacred areas.
Generations of Tahltans have demanded our sacred areas be off limits to industry. Agreeing to formally collaborate with the province of BC on a Phase 1 Land Use Plan means we are now formally implementing those calls. This is a significant victory, establishing a no staking reserve in our sacred areas and signaling a shift in industry access within Tahltan Territory. Entering this Phase 1 Land Use process with the province marks the beginning of permanently limiting industry presence in our culturally significant areas.
Question: How will I be able to be involved with, and informed about, the Tahltan-BC discussions?
Answer: The Tahltan Central Government (TCG) will establish access for the Nation to participate through social media, websites, and engaging with members to seek guidance and input, mirroring the approach taken during the development of the Tahltan Stewardship Plan.
Question: What does this mean for guide outfitters? My sustenance activities? My cultural activities on the land?
Answer: The collaborative Phase 1 Land Use Plan will prioritize protection, conservation, and defining permissible land uses in a manner that is agreeable to the Tahltan Nation. It will also prioritize Tahltan management to guarantee cultural access, wildlife recovery, preservation of the Tahltan way of life, and support for the conservation economy, including guide outfitters.
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