trtfn presentation to community and stakeholder workshop june 19, 2009 hà t_átgi hà khustìyxh...
TRANSCRIPT
TRTFN Presentation to Community and Stakeholder WorkshopJune 19, 2009
Hà t_átgi hà khustìyxh sìti (“Our Land is Our Future”)
Overview of Presentation
• Brief profile of TRTFN and our territory• Overview of TRTFN community-based land use
planning to date• Summary of TRT interests for the Framework
Agreement process
Tlingit Territory
• 40,000 km2 • Diverse wildlife species• One of the largest pristine wild salmon systems on
the coast• Rich in natural resources & largely intact ecosystems• Scale and intactness is rare on a global scale• Special responsibility to sustain the land and our
communities
• Process of renewal underway– Healing our community– Rebuilding our economy– Protecting our land and way of life
• Recognition and reconciliation– Stepping up to our governance rights and
responsibilities– Expect respect for Tlingit Rights and Responsibilities– Want to strengthen our relationships with others– Assume we are all here to stay
Turning Point
• History of decisions made without our consent or support
• History of conflict over other people’s priorities for our land and resources
• Elders directed us to develop a “Land Protection Plan”
• Intent to provide a community-based vision for sustaining and strengthening our land and way of life
From reacting to planning for our future
• Compiled traditional land use and occupancy maps, oral histories and other cultural information
• Conducted detailed wildlife studies and mapped important wildlife and ecological habitats across our territory
• Conducted interviews with Tlingit citizens, to find out about their values, interests and concerns
• Held numerous family and community meetings in Atlin, Whitehorse and Vancouver, over the last 30 years
• Researching Tlingit Laws and clarifying how to legislate the current work we are doing
Planning Steps
• Extensive cultural maps and datasets• Land plan interview summaries• Conservation Area Design (2001)• Ha Tlatgi Ha Khustiyxh Sit: Our Land is Our
Future (2003)• TRTFN Mining Policy (2005)
Selected Planning Products
• Identifies key areas to maintain healthy wildlife, fish and their habitats.
• Identifies regional connectivity• Combines our traditional ecological knowledge
with western science• State of the art, international peer review
Conservation Area Design
• Protecting the salmon is a first principle for Taku River Tlingits!
• TRT own 8 of 16 commercial licenses• Have been actively involved for many years in
Pacific Salmon Treaty negotiations• Pioneered “Watershed-based Fish
Sustainability Planning” with DFO
Salmon Conservation
• On-going intensive community process• Led by the Lands and Resource Department,
with technical support from partners• Built on foundation of cultural and ecological
studies, and knowledge of hunters, Elders and community members
• Key product is Ha Tlatgi Ha Khustiyxh Siti: Our Land is Our Future.
• Approved at a JCM, March 2003.
Our Land Use Vision
• Affirms our rightful place as stewards of the land
• Describes how we want land and resources managed and protected for the benefit of present and future generations
• Presents goals, objectives and strategies for a range of resource values
• Represents a balanced, sustainable vision that will protect our land and way of life while promoting sustainable economic development
Ha Tlatgi Ha Khustiyxh Siti
Selected Goals: - Develop viable and responsible commercial recreation
and tourism- Ensure tourism respects TRTFN traditional use and
cultural values- Manage tourism to avoid adverse impacts to natural
values
Selected Objectives: - Develop guidelines for commercial rec & tourism
Implementation Examples: - Goat Management Plan for Klondike Heliski- Business plan with Phil Timpany GO
Recreation And Tourism
Selected Goals: - Ensure mining and energy related projects achieve the
highest standards of environmental management and provide significant benefits to the local community
Selected Objectives: - Fully assess potential impacts prior to development- Ensure full restoration and reclamation of mining projects
Implementation Examples:- TRTFN Mining Policy- Ruby Creek Assessment process- Cooperation with local small mine operations- Tulsequah AMD
Mineral & Energy Resources
• Zone Framework contained in Ha Tlatgi – Tlingit Interest and Conservation Areas– Special Management Areas– Integrated Use Areas
• Work since 2003 to integrate cultural and ecological data to inform zoning– Camps, cabins, trails, archaeological sites, grave sites,
village sites– Hunting, trapping, fishing and gathering areas– Features, sites and landscapes associated with oral history
and legends
Preparation for Zoning
• Land Act section 17 and NOI areas
• Tlingit Land Use Model
• “High Value Landscapes for Cultural
and Ecological Values”
Interim Products
Identify areas or landscapes with high likelihood of Tlingit land use or potential use
Tlingit Land Use Model
Identifies landscapes with high concentrations of cultural and ecological values important to the TRTFN
High Value Landscapes
• Further family, community, Leadership and Elders meetings planned
• On-going work with Carcross Tagish FN and Teslin Tlingit Council
Further community process
• Builds on on-going Tlingit community input and interests expressed through this stakeholder process,
• Will include:– Significant protection of high value landscapes in a
network of TICAs– Areas open for sustainable development
• Draft products will be negotiated with BC through summer 09
• Further consultation with stakeholders in fall 09
Emerging Picture
• Support economic development that is diverse, sustainable, and creates local jobs and opportunities, i.e.– TakuWild– Pine Creek Microhydro Project – Taku Safaris GO territory– Commercial salmon fishery– Small scale forestry– Ecotourism & cultural tourism– Arts and Cultural local Enterprises– Responsible MinEx and Mine Development
Looking to the future
• Hope to build local capacity and increase our community’s self-reliance
• Over time, hope that more Tlingits will chose to move home to live and work
• Believe TRT and local community share many common values and interests
• Through this and other initiatives, we look forward to building a shared sustainable future for our children and others who are committed to healthy communities
Working Together
Gunalchish
Thanks with respect!