TRTFN Presentation to Community and Stakeholder Workshop June 19, 2009 Hà t_átgi hà khustìyxh sìti (“Our Land is Our Future” )

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!