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Background Report Sahtu Land Use Planning Board Sahtu Land Use Plan Background Report July 2010 July 2010 Page 1 Sahtu Land Use Plan Background Report: The Sahtu Settlement Area The Sahtu Land Use Plan Background Report The Sahtu Land Use Plan Background Report, from now on referred to as the “Background Report”, is intended to capture some of the main characteristics of the Sahtu Settlement Area (SSA), its people, the culture, special places, the biophysical environment, the economy and the regulatory regime. Above all, the Background Report should help readers better understand the Sahtu and the reports and information that were considered in the development, decisions, and planning that resulted in the Sahtu Land Use Plan (SLUP). Introduction The Sahtu Land Use Plan was written by taking into account the three pillars of sustainability: socio-cultural, economic and ecological factors. These three domains are now commonly considered part of a balanced approach to decision-making. The background report is an attempt to briefly describe some of the social, cultural, economic and ecological factors that the Sahtu Land Use Planning Board (SLUPB) has considered in its decision making. INAC’s Sustainable Development Strategy 2007-2010 describes sustainable communities as those which “enjoy a prosperous economy, a vibrant and just society, and a healthy environment for current and future generations.”1 The Sahtu Land Use Planning Board has sought to develop a balanced plan for the Sahtu Settlement Area (SSA) by considering a diversity of resources under each of the three pillars. A summary of the sources used and a general description of the Sahtu Settlement Area follow. 1 INAC Sustainable Development Strategy 2007-2010, P. 4: www.ainc-inac.gc.ca/sd/index_e.html July 2010 Page 2 TABLE OF CONTENTS ACRONYMS ..................................................................................................................... 8 CHAPTER 1: SOCIETY AND CULTURE ...........................................................................10 1.1 THE SAHTU SETTLEMENT AREA (SSA) .......................................................................10 1.1.1 Boundaries ........................................................................................................10 1.1.2 Land Ownership and Organization .......................................................................10 1.2 THE PEOPLE ............................................................................................................15 1.2.1 The Sahtu Dene and Métis ..................................................................................15 1.2.2 Sahtu Communities ............................................................................................15 1.2.3 Statistical Overview of the Sahtu .........................................................................18 1.3 CULTURE .................................................................................................................23 1.3.1 Traditional Knowledge (TK) .................................................................................23 1.3.2 Sahtu Dene and Métis Spirituality ........................................................................27 1.3.3 Youth and the Land ............................................................................................30 1.3.4 Ongoing Relationship with the Land .....................................................................31 1.4 RAKEKÉE GOK’É GODI: PLACES WE TAKE CARE OF ....................................................32 CHAPTER 2: BIOPHYSICAL ENVIRONMENT .................................................................35 2.1 GEOLOGY ................................................................................................................35 2.1.1 Topography .......................................................................................................37 2.2 CLIMATE .................................................................................................................37 2.2.1 Temperature ......................................................................................................37 2.2.2 Permafrost ........................................................................................................40 2.2.3 Climate Change ..................................................................................................40 2.3 WATER AND WATERSHEDS .......................................................................................44 2.3.1 Draft NWT Water Stewardship Strategy ...............................................................45 2.3.2 Watersheds .......................................................................................................45 2.3.3 Community Source Drinking Watersheds ..............................................................49 2.4 LANDCOVER AND ECOREGIONS ................................................................................51 2.4.1 Boreal Biome .....................................................................................................51 2.4.2 Forest Fires .......................................................................................................51 2.4.3 Ecological Classification ......................................................................................52 2.5 ECOLOGICALLY SIGNIFICANT AREAS ........................................................................59 2.5.1 Representation Analysis ......................................................................................59 2.5.2 Karst Landforms .................................................................................................60 2.5.3 International Biological Program (IBP) Sites ..........................................................63 2.6 WILDLIFE ................................................................................................................63 ----------------------------- .....................................................................................................63 2.6.1 Species of Importance in the Sahtu Settlement Area (SSA) ....................................64 July 2010 Page 3 2.6.2 Species at Risk and COSEWIC .............................................................................66 2.6.2 Canada’s Species at Risk Act (SARA) ....................................................................68 2.6.3 Northwest Territories (NWT) Species at Risk Act ...................................................68 2.6.4 Habitat Sites and Harvesting Sites .......................................................................69 2.6.5 Sources Used .....................................................................................................70 2.6.6 Species Specific Wildlife Maps .............................................................................82 CHAPTER 3: ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT & NATURAL RESOURCES .............................95 3.1 INDUSTRY ...............................................................................................................95 3.1.1 Oil and Gas ........................................................................................................95 3.1.2 Minerals and Mining ......................................................................................... 101 3.1.3 Granular Deposits ............................................................................................ 109 3.1.4 Contaminated Sites and Waste Remediation ....................................................... 111 3.1.5 Forestry .......................................................................................................... 112 3.1.6 Fishing ............................................................................................................ 115 3.2 TOURISM .............................................................................................................. 115 3.2.1 Big Game and Sport Fishing Outfitters ............................................................... 116 3.2.2 Sport Fishing and Ecotourism ............................................................................ 118 3.3 INFRASTRUCTURE AND TRANSPORTATION ............................................................. 119 3.3.1 Energy & Power Development ........................................................................... 119 3.3.2 Transportation ................................................................................................. 121 CHAPTER 4: REGULATORY ENVIRONMENT ................................................................ 125 4.1 MACKENZIE VALLEY RESOURCE MANAGEMENT ACT (MVRMA) ................................... 125 4.2 DESIGNATED SAHTU ORGANIZATIONS (DSOs) ........................................................ 126 4.3 CO-MANAGEMENT BOARDS IN THE SSA .................................................................. 127 4.3.1 Sahtu Land Use Planning Board (SLUPB) ............................................................ 128 4.3.2 Sahtu Renewable Resources Board (SRRB) ......................................................... 128 4.3.3 Renewable Resource Councils (RRC) .................................................................. 128 4.3.4 Sahtu Land and Water Board (SLWB)................................................................. 129 4.3.5 Mackenzie Valley Land and Water Board (MVLWB) .............................................. 129 4.3.6 Mackenzie Valley Environmental Impact Review Board (MVEIRB) ......................... 129 4.4 GOVERNMENT OF THE NORTHWEST TERRITORIES (GNWT)
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