The Inuvialuit people of Paulatuk,
the nearest community, who recognized the ecological
and cultural importance of the region, initiated
the creation of the park. Tuktut Nogait falls
under the agreement the federal government signed
in 1984, The Western Arctic Claims Settlement
Act, which gave land and benefits to the Inuvialuit,
based on their traditional presence in the area.
Talks between the territorial government, the
people of Paulatuk and Ottawa began in 1989,
spurred by the need to protect the caribou calving
grounds. After years of planning and negotiation,
an agreement to establish a park to protect
the Tuktut Nogait, "caribou calves" in the Siglik
dialect of Inuvialuktun, was signed. In the
two years between the signing and the passing
of the park legislation however, the preservation
of the Bluenose caribou once more became an
issue, this time in a conflict with mining interests
in the Hornaday Valley. Environmentalists feared
that the border agreed upon would be pushed
eastward to reduce the park by 415 square kilometres
allowing mineral development at the very heart
of the caribou's calving grounds. About 20%
of Darnley Bay, the area of dispute within the
park boundaries, is rich in minerals and many
feared the loss of mining jobs. In December
1998, after extensive consultation and debate,
the Senate passed legislation to retain the
original park boundaries. Following Ivvavik
and Aulavik, it is the third national park to
be established in the Inuvialuit Settlement
Region. Parks Canada expects to expand the park
15 000 square kilometres into the northeast
corner of the traditional territory of the Sahtu
Dene and Metis, lands which include the headwaters
of the Hornaday and the watershed of the Bluenose
Lake - essentially the entire Tundra Hills Natural
Region, which presently is under protection
from development.
|
