Northwest Territories
In 2019, the Łutsël K'é Dene First Nation established one of the largest protected areas in Canada, but the work didn't stop there.
21. August 2020
For more than 10 years thePrimera Nación Łutsël K'é Deneworked in partnership with Nature United and our global subsidiary, The Nature Conservancy, to advance the nation's vision for its traditional home in the Northwest Territories: a 6.5 million-hectare protected area called Thaine Nëné.
In 2019, the Łutsël K'é Dene First Nation signed foundation agreements with Parks Canada and the Government of the Northwest Territories, marking a historic milestone for Thaidene Nëné.
Today, Łutsël K'é leads the stewardship of this landscape and shows the world that the only way to achieve long-term conservation results is by strengthening the rights and authority of indigenous peoples.
Together with the adjacent Thelon Wildlife Sanctuary, the Thaidene Nëné National Park Reserve and Protected Territorial Area and Wildlife Conservation Area protect an ecosystem that spans 18 million acres:one of the largest terrestrial protected areas in North America.
×
×
×
×
×
global scale
A vast landscape of subarctic forest and tundra in the Northwest Territories, Thaidene Nëné provides vital habitat for brown bears, wolves, birds, fish and some of the last free herds of caribou.
×
Thaidene Nëné is an intact ecosystem where development has not yet created paths, structures and activities that forever change the internal rhythm of nature. It has some of the cleanest fresh water in the world and is part of Canada's carbon-rich boreal forest, which stretches over 1.3 billion acres along the northern tip of North America.
It is an important source of livelihood and cultural value for the Łutsël K'é Dene First Nation. Thaidene Nëné is home to culturally significant sites such as the Lady of the Falls, where people of the Łutsël K'é Dene First Nation come for healing and prayer.
This unique combination of ecological and cultural integrity exists in Thaidene Nëné, making it a landscape of global significance.
The sanctuary will encompass 6.5 million acres in the transition between boreal forest and tundra, including the eastern arm of Great Slave Lake, the deepest freshwater spring in North America.
led by indigenous people
Thaidene Nënéis is the heart of the home and a sacred place for the Łutsël K'é Denesoline, who depend on their land and waters for their livelihood and well-being. Through a precedent-setting approach, Thaine Nëné is governed jointly by the Łutsël K'é Dene First Nation and the federal and provincial governments.
The protected area serves not only to preserve but also to promote a viable economic future for Łutsël K'é. Thaidene Nëné will also promote sustainable economic growth by creating new administrative jobs and promoting ecotourism in the region.
As part of our commitment to indigenous leadership and investment incommunity led youth initiatives, Nature United is proud to support the Ni Hat'Ni Dene Rangers - Łutsël K'é Indigenous Ranger Program. This program monitors ecological values, maintains cultural sites, communicates with tourists, imparts knowledge to the younger generation, and much more.
In 2020, in connection with the start of theKaribu-Management-Watchdog Plan (United States of America)– a community-led vision for treating this key cultural species with respect.
Łutsël K'é' has been working to make Thaidene Nëné a reality for over 50 years. Nature United, together with our global subsidiary, has been a long-standing partner in promoting Łutsël K'é's vision for its traditional areas.
The history of Thaidene Nne
1970-2020
decades in the making
The Łutsël K'é Dene First Nation has worked to protect Thaidene Nëné for decades. Nature United and our global subsidiary have worked with Łutsël K'é for over 10 years to promote his vision.
1970-1990
In 1970, chief Pierre Catholique and the council refused to accept a national park, concerned about the lifestyle impact of the Łutsël K'é Dene harvest. When Canada once again turned to Łutsël K'é to establish a national park in 1982, hereditary chief Joe Lockhart urged government officials to "pack up their cards and go."
2000
After diamonds and metals were found in the traditional area of Łutsël K'é in the 1990s, sparking a boom in industrial development, Chief Felix Lockhart and the council are concerned about the land and wildlife and are engaging in talks with Parks Canada about a possible park.
2004
Łutsël K'é approves a name and boundary for a protected area called Thaidene Nëné, which means "land of the ancestors" in the Dene language.
2007
Chief Addie Jonasson and the board of directors sign a memorandum of understanding with Parks Canada to investigate the feasibility of Thaidene Nëné. The land will be placed under temporary land reserve through the Akaitcho process, which will protect a total of 24 million acres from any industrial development.
2010
Chief Steven Nitah and the board sign a framework agreement with Canada outlining the negotiation process for Thaidene Nëné. In the fall, boss Antoine Michel and the board will begin formal negotiations. Nature United's global subsidiary begins collaborating with Łutsël K'é, supporting its community-driven conservation goals, including its Guardian program, Ni Hat'ni Dene Rangers, and integrating youth mentorship.
2011
Łutsël K'é and the global subsidiary of Nature United are collaborating to organize a trip up the Upper Thelon River to raise awareness among young people about the conservation goals of Thaidene Nëné and the pressures on resources in the Upper Thelon River basin. Nature United's global subsidiary continues to support the Ni Hat'ni Dene Rangers program as it grows.
2013
First negotiations with the government of the Northwest Territories for a territorial protection area. Łutsël K'é begins work on strategies for Thaidene Nëné tourism and how to support related economic development. Nature United's global subsidiary continues to provide technical expertise for mapping ecological and cultural assets, and provides the elders of Łutsël K'é with more tools to make decisions about the boundaries of Thaidene Nëné.
2015
Provisional limits are agreed for Thaidene Nëné. Łutsël K'é continues his work with our global subsidiary by making it clear that a conservation economy is key to protecting Thaidene Nëné. Łutsël K'é and our global subsidiary start a partnership to raise US$15 million for an endowment fund to support the co-government of Thaidene Nëné. The federal government is doubling the funds, creating a $30 million Thaidene Nëné fund to support the co-governance roles and responsibilities of Łutsël K'é.
2017
Tracey Williams, who has lived and worked in the Northwest Territories for 20 years (including for Łutsël K'é), joins the Nature United team to support our work for the Thaidene Nëné Initiative and other community initiatives led by Indigenous Autonomy . Leadership and diversified economic development.
2019
Nature United is formalizing its commitment to raise $15 million in February in partnership with LKDFN. Łutsël K'é ratifies Thaidene Nëné by referendum of all members (88% of votes in favor). Łutsël K'é invites the Government of Canada and the Government of the Northwest Territories to sign settlement agreements in August 2019.
2020
In the first year of co-governance, the Ni Hat'ni Dene Rangers successfully completed a season of monitoring caribou on land; Łutsël K'é Dene First Nation implements a caribou management plan to encourage and support respectful hunting practices; and the municipality launches a 5-year strategic plan for Thaidene Nëné.
our role
Nature United and its global subsidiary The Nature Conservancy have been long-standing partners in advancing the Łutsël K'é Dene First Nation's vision for their traditional territories, including raising $15 million to support the establishment of the Thaidene Nëné Trust to create a model precedent for co-indigenous governance.
How the TDN fund works
Just as the land in Thaidene Nëné is protected, the TDN fund provides long-term protection for the initial investment of $30 million and any additional investment.Download an infographic
×
This innovative model will provide long-term sustainable financing and ensure that the municipality of Łutsël K'é has the resources to hire park rangers, manage the park's concessions and activities, and ensure that the area is conserved for its environmental and cultural values.
By assisting the Łutsël K'é community in mapping areas of cultural and ecological importance, Nature United has helped to inform the boundaries of Thaidene Nëné.
Nature United is deeply committed to supporting the leadership and empowerment of indigenous peoples across Canada. In places like Thaidene Nëné and theBig Bear Rainforest, we are committed to sustainable economic development while protecting globally important ecosystems.