March 1997

Government of Canada
Canadian Heritage - Parks Canada
National Parks

Vuntut National Park

Vuntut National Park was established in February 1995 through the Vuntut Gwitchin First Nation Land Claim Agreement which is a component of the Yukon First Nations Land Claims Settlement Act. In recognition of the conservation values of the Old Crow Flats, the provisions of the Vuntut Gwitchin First Nation Final Agreement established a Special Management Area for the entire Old Crow Flats of which Vuntut National Park is one component.

Parks Canada, in accordance with the Agreement, has started planning for the park operation with Vuntut Gwitchin. The Vuntut Gwitchin Impact and Benefit Plan, called for in the Vuntut Gwitchin First Nation Final Agreement, has been completed. The objective of this plan is to ensure that the impacts and benefits of the establishment and operation of Vuntut National Park are managed in such a way that the community of Old Crow and Vuntut Gwitchin people benefit to the greatest extent possible. To date tourism in the area has been very limited. The Agreement stipulates that the majority of staff employed to operate and manage Vuntut National Park will be Vuntut Gwitchin.

The Vuntut Gwitchin Renewable Resources Council has been established. This cooperative management body will advise the Minister of Canadian Heritage on the management of Vuntut National Park. Local Renewable Resource Councils have been set up in the traditional territories of the four Yukon First Nations with completed land claim agreements. These Councils will consider local fish and wildlife issues, consult with community residents and make recommendations to the appropriate Minister, First Nations and the Yukon Fish and Wildlife Management Board.

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