TORNGAT MOUNTAINS NATIONAL PARK

Presentation to Special Senate Committee on the Arctic November 19, 20018 1 PURPOSE Overview of the Torngat Mountains National Park Key elements include: • Indigenous partners and key commitments; • Cooperative Management structure; • Base Camp and Research Station overview & accomplishments; and • Next steps.

2 GEOGRAPHICAL CONTEXT

3 INDIGENOUS PARTNERS • Inuit from Northern Labrador  represented by Nunatsiavut Government • Inuit from Nunavik (northern Quebec)  represented by Makivik Corporation

4 Cooperative Management

What is it? Cooperative management is a model that involves Indigenous peoples in the planning and management of national parks without limiting the authority of the Minister under the Canada National Parks Act.

What is the objective? To respect the rights and knowledge systems of Indigenous peoples by incorporating Indigenous history and cultures into management practices.

How is it done? The creation of an incorporated Cooperative Management Board establishes a structure and process for Parks Canada and Indigenous peoples to regularly and meaningfully engage with each other as partners.

5 TORNGAT MOUNTAINS NATIONAL PARK

CO-OPERATIVE MANAGEMENT BOARD

6 BASECAMP

7 EVOLUTION OF BASE CAMP

8 VALUE OF A BASE CAMP

9 10 ACCOMPLISHMENTS

An emerging destination  Tourism was a foreign concept before the park. It is now a destination in its own right. Cruise ships and sailing vessels are also finding their way here. Reconciliation in action  Parks Canada has been working with Inuit to develop visitor experiences that will connect people to the park as an Inuit homeland. All of these experiences involve the participation of Inuit and help tell the story to the rest of the world in a culturally appropriate way. Exploring diverse experiences – scientists and tourists and youth  The base camp has quickly become a gathering place for different groups - for Inuit, scientists, Inuit youth.  The NG constructed facilities in support of a remote research station  The value and the experiential offer of the Base Camp is increased exponentially as a result.

Building Business Opportunities – Building Capacity  Base camp operation offers employment to 15 – 20 Inuit and several Inuit businesses

11 Considerations/Risks/Issues

• The Cooperative Management Board strongly supports the operation of the base camp as a way for Inuit to return to the land and Torngat Mountains National Park has committed in its 2018 Management Plan to seek ways to ensure the financial sustainability of the operation of the base camp. • Parks Canada is now an anchor tenant at base camp but Park’s funding allocations are fixed while rising Base Camp costs, due to its remote locations and particularly the costs of fuel, have created fiscal challenges for Base Camp. • In light of acute financial challenges facing the Base Camp operation in 2017 and 2018, Parks Canada provided an additional financial support to the Nunatsiavut Government. • Parks Canada wishes to work with the Nunatsiavut Government to identify potential longer term solutions, including adjustments to Base Camp operations to improve efficiency. • The Nunatsiavut Government is currently working through a process to identify a new operator for Base Camp for the next five years. Parks Canada will be working with the Nunatsiavut Government to work toward a sustainable operating model.

12 QUESTIONS?

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