The First Saoyú-Ɂehdacho National Historic Site Management Plan Tabled in Parliament
Press Release
Parks Canada announces plan to connect Canadians to heritage on Great Bear Lake
October 21, 2016 Délı̨nę, NT Parks Canada Agency
The first management plan for Saoyú-Ɂehdacho National Historic Site was tabled in Parliament yesterday. Reviewed every 10 years, management plans are a legislative requirement of the Canada National Parks Act and guide the management of Parks Canada places.
National historic sites reflect the rich and varied heritage of our nation.
The new plan for Saoyú-Ɂehdacho National Historic Site is a true reflection of the partnerships among the site’s shared authorities, and outlines the following key objectives:
- increase awareness among Canadians of the site’s significance;
- protect its rich array of natural and cultural resources;
- develop capacity of Sahtúgot’įnę individuals, organizations and businesses; and
- conduct research, monitoring and documentation of traditional and scientific knowledge pertaining to the site.
The management plan was drafted cooperatively with the community of Délı̨nę, the Sahtugot’ine, local stakeholders, Parks Canada and the Cooperative Management Board in order to champion local traditional knowledge and preserve and protect Sahtugot’ine culture. It reflects the important goal of sharing and promoting the Sahtugot’ine heritage in order to pass it along to future generations. Through this management plan, Parks Canada is meeting its promise to protect and present Canada’s cultural heritage while also providing an opportunity for Canadians to experience and discover our diverse history in new and exciting ways.
As we near the 150th anniversary of Confederation in 2017, the Government of Canada invites Canadians to learn more about our history. Canada’s national historic sites will play a big part in the celebration of Canada 150.
The Saoyú-Ɂehdacho Management Plan is available on the Parks Canada website at: http://www.pc.gc.ca/eng/lhn-nhs/nt/Saoyu-ehdacho/site.aspx
Quotes
“Canada’s national parks, national historic sites and national marine conservation areas belong to all Canadians and offer truly Canadian experiences. As the Minister responsible for Parks Canada, I applaud this collaborative effort and I am pleased to approve the first ever management plan for Saoyú-ʔehdacho National Historic Site.”
Catherine McKenna
Minister of Environment and Climate Change and Minister responsible for Parks Canada
“The course we set for ourselves and the course we set for Saoyú-Ɂehdacho are determined by how we make decisions. Together, we agree to bring our authorities to the table and, together, we make final decisions on the management of Saoyú-Ɂehdacho — on both Aboriginally-held and Crown lands — by the Indigenous tradition of consensus. Together, we make a small and ongoing contribution to reconciliation.”
Tom Nesbitt
Co-Chair, Saoyú-Ɂehdacho Cooperative Management Board
Quick Facts
- The site name comes from the North Slavey names for the two large peninsulas on Great Bear Lake in the NWT: Saoyú, meaning “Grizzly Bear Mountain” and Ɂehdacho, meaning “Scented Grass Hills”
- Saoyú-ʔehdacho National Historic Site was first designated by Historic Sites and Monuments Board of Canada in 1998. In 2008, the Saoyú-ʔehdacho National Historic Site of Canada Protected Area and Cooperative Management Agreement was signed, making Saoyú-ʔehdacho the first cooperatively managed National Historic Site in Canada.
Associated Links
Saoyú-ʔehdacho National Historic Site
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Contacts
Sarah Culley
External Relations Manager, Western Arctic Field Unit
867-777-8818
sarah.culley@pc.gc.ca
Media Relations
Parks Canada Agency
1-855-862-1812
pc.media@pc.gc.ca
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