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https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/north/taku-river-tlingit-protected-area-1.6723444>
'The Taku River Tlingit First Nation in Atlin, B.C., has declared a vast swath
of its traditional territory in northern B.C. off-limits to mining and other
extractive-resource development.
The First Nation has named the 1.8-million hectare Taku River watershed an
Indigenous Protected and Conserved Area (IPCA), according to Tlingit law. The
one-page declaration, signed by six representatives of the First Nation, says
it covers "all lands that bear waters flowing into the Taku River."
According to the declaration, the IPCA "protects critical landscapes while
providing for a diversified economic future," by setting aside 60 per cent of
the watershed for protection. That means mining would be off-limits in those
areas, while things such as tourism, research and restoration work would be
allowed.
In the remaining 40 per cent, "respectful mineral and other development" would
be allowed in areas of high mineral potential.
"Our declaration is derived from decades of interviews and work that our
previous elders had provided to our nation around the protected areas, the
areas that mean the most to us as Tlingit," said Charmaine Thom, spokesperson
for the First Nation and one of the signatories to the declaration.
She said the Taku River watershed is "the heart of who we are."
"We harvest our salmon there. We do our harvesting of moose there," she said.'
Via Susan ****
Cheers,
*** Xanni ***
--
mailto:xanni@xanadu.net Andrew Pam
http://xanadu.com.au/ Chief Scientist, Xanadu
https://glasswings.com.au/ Partner, Glass Wings
https://sericyb.com.au/ Manager, Serious Cybernetics
