1999 Rampart-Lapierre-House-Management-Plan
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RAMPART HOUSE HISTORIC SITE LAPIERRE HOUSE HISTORIC SITE MANAGEMENT PLAN MARCH 1999 RAMPART HOUSE HISTORIC SITE LAPIERRE HOUSE HISTORIC SITE MANAGEMENT PLAN PREPARED FOR THE VUNTUT GWITCHIN FIRST NATION And THE GOVERNMENT OF THE YUKON MARCH 1999 PREPARED BY ECOGISTICS CONSULTING BOX 181 WELLS, BC, V0K 2R0 [email protected] voice: (250) 994-3349 fax: (250) 994-3358 ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS Ecogistics Consulting and the planning team would like to thank the members of the Heritage Committee, the staff of the Heritage Branch of Tourism Yukon, and the staff of the Vuntut Gwitchin First Nation for the assistance they have provided throughout the project. We would also like to thank the Vuntut Gwitchin Elders and other members of the community of Old Crow and the many people who took the time to come the to public meetings and contribute their thoughts and ideas. People from several different communities took the time to respond to the newsletter and their input is appreciated. Heritage Committee: Dennis Frost Ruth Gotthardt Katie Hayhurst William Josie Doug Olynyk Esau Schafer Planning Team Judy Campbell, Ecogistics Consulting, Senior Planner Eileen Fletcher, Architect and Conservation Specialist Helene Dobrowolsky and Rob Ingram – Midnight Arts, Interpretation Specialists Colin Beaisto, Historian Sheila Greer, Consulting Archaeologist Additional Contributions: Norm Barichello For the younger generation coming up, they want to know where their forefathers came from. Dennis Frost, 1998. TABLE OF CONTENTS 1.0 BACKGROUND ……………………………………………………………………………………………. 1 1.1 INTRODUCTION………………………………………………………………………………………. 1 1.1.1 The Planning and Public Consultation Process…………………………………………………... 3 1.2 THE PLANNING CONTEXT………………………………………………………………………….. 4 1.2.2 Location and Legal Boundaries…………………………………………………………………... 4 1.2.2 Climate………………………………………………………………………………………….... 9 1.2.3 Rampart House Ecological Setting……………………………………………………………..… 10 1.24. Lapierre House Ecological Setting……………………………………………………………….. 10 1.2.5 Traditional Use…………………………………………………………………………………… 11 1.2.6 Current Use………………………………………………………………………………………. 13 1.2.7 Other Planning Processes………………………………………………………………………… 14 2.0 HERITAGE RESOURCES………………………………………………………………………………….. 17 2.1 DESCRIPTION OF RESOURCES……………………………………………………………………... 17 2.1.1 Background and Definitions……………………………………………………………………… 17 2.1.2 Documentary Sources Available………………………………………………………………..... 18 2.1.3 Directions for Future Research…………………………………………………………………… 19 2.1.4 On-site Resources – Lapierre House……………………………………………………………… 23 2.1.5 On-site Resource – Rampart House……………………………………………………………… 24 2.2 ASSESSMENT…………………………………………………………………………………………. 26 2.2.1 Purpose of Assessment…………………………………………………………………………… 26 2.2.2 Condition…………………………………………………………………………………………. 26 2.2.3 Significance………………………………………………………………………………………. 32 2.2.4 Identification of Risks……………………………………………………………………………. 36 2.3 CONSERVATION APPROACHES……………………………………………………………………. 37 2.4 CONSERVATION PRIORITIES………………………………………………………………………. 42 2.4.1 Information for Assessment and Planning……………………………………………………….. 42 2.4.2 Protection…………………………………………………………………………………………. 45 3.0 SITE DEVELOPMENT AND VISITOR SERVICES………………………………………………………. 49 3.1 RANGE OF POSSIBLE USES…………………………………………………………………………. 50 3.2 DEVELOPMENT CONTEXT………………………………………………………………………….. 52 3.2.1 Relationship Between Lapierre House and Rampart House……………………………………… 52 3.2.2 Relationships with Other Places………………………………………………………………….. 52 3.2.3 Transportation Links and Access…………………………………………………………………. 54 3.3 SITE DEVELOPMENT RECOMMENDATIONS……………………………………………………… 55 3.3.1 Alternative Levels of Conservation and Development…………………………………………… 55 3.3.2 Lapierre House……………………………………………………………………………………. 55 3.3.3 Rampart House……………………………………………………………………………………. 59 3.3.4 Old Crow………………………………………………………………………………………….. 63 3.4 IMPACTS, BENEFITS AND OPPORTUNITIES FOR DEVELOPMENT……………………………. 64 3.4.1 Land Use………………………………………………………………………………………….. 64 3.4.2 Access…………………………………………………………………………………………….. 64 3.4.3 Cultural Development…………………………………………………………………………….. 64 3.4.4 Education and Training…………………………………………………………………………… 65 3.4.5 Employment and Economic Development……………………………………………………….. 66 RAMPART HOUSE/LAPIERRE HOUSE Management Plan i TABLE OF CONTENTS (con’t) 4.0 INTERPRETATION…………………………………………………………………………………….…… 69 4.1 INTERPRETIVE PLANNING CONSIDERATIONS………………………………………………….. 69 4.2 INTERPRETIVE THEMES AND STORIES…………………………………………………………… 72 4.2.1 Introduction……………………………………………………………………………………….. 72 4.2.2 General Themes…………………………………………………………………………………… 74 4.2.3 Specific Themes for Rampart House and Lapierre House………………………………………… 76 4.3 INTERPRETIVE RESOURCES………………………………………………………………………… 81 4.3.1 Historic Resources………………………………………………………………………………... 81 4.3.2 Natural Resources…………………………………………………………………………………. 83 4.4 INTERPRETIVE PRIORITIES…………………………………………………………………………. 86 5.0 IMPLEMENTATION………………………………………………………………………………………… 91 5.1 MANAGEMENT STRUCTURES………………………………………………………………………. 92 5.1.1 Role of the Joint Heritage Committee…………………………………………………………….. 92 5.1.2 Lapierre House/Rampart House Project Manager………………………………………………… 95 5.1.3 Site Supervisor…………………………………………………………………………………….. 95 5.1.4 Technical Support………………………………………………………………………………… 95 5.1.5 Final Agreement Obligations……………………………………………………………………... 96 5.2 COMMUNITY PROJECTS……………………………………………………………………………... 97 5.2.1 Project #1: Collecting Historic Site Information…………………………………………………. 99 5.2.2 Project #2: On-site Protection and Documentation………………………………………………. 103 5.2.3 Project #3: Basic Visitor Services………………………………………………………………... 105 5.2.4 Project #4: Conservation Project at Rampart House……………………………………………... 109 5.3 IMPLEMENTATION PHASING AND SCHEDULE…………………………………………………… 111 5.4 BUDGETARY PLANNING……………………………………………………………………………... 112 5.5 SUMMARY OF RECOMMENDATIONS……………………………………………………………… 118 A1.0 APPENDIX ONE: LEGAL CONSIDERATIONS……………………………………………………. 123 A2.0 APPENDIX TWO: HISTORIC SUMMARY (UNDER SEPARATE COVER) A3.0 APPENDIX THREE: BIBLIOGRAPHY……………………………………………………………… 135 A4.0 RESOURCE CHRONOLOGY FORM………………………………………………………………… 141 RAMPART HOUSE/LAPIERRE HOUSE Management Plan ii BACKGROUND For the younger generation coming up, they want to know where their forefathers came from. Dennis Frost, 1998. 1.0 BACKGROUND 1.1 INTRODUCTION Rampart House Historic Site and Lapierre House Historic Site are special places. They are two of the earliest places in what would become the Yukon Territory where First Nation people met and interacted with non-natives. At these sites, the Gwich‟in dealt with fur traders, explorers, Christian missionaries, and government officials; people that brought many changes to Gwich‟in culture. In the late 1800s and the early part of this century, the two sites were important Gwich‟in communities. They were home to some Gwich‟in families and regularly visited by many others. Families have relatives who are buried in the cemeteries at the two sites. Being situated in Beringia, an area where some of the oldest archaeological sites in North America have been found, the sites are also part of an ancient cultural landscape. Both sites are still visited by Gwich‟in people and occasional tourists. Because of their cultural and historic values, these two sites were identified for special protection in the land claims agreement signed by the Vuntut Gwitchin First Nation and the Yukon and federal government in 1993. Under the Vuntut Gwitchin First Nation Final Agreement (the Final Agreement or VGFNFA), the sites will be jointly owned and managed by the Vuntut Gwitchin First Nation and the Yukon government, and will be designated as historic sites under the Yukon Historic Sites Act. The preparation of this management plan is a requirement of, and is consistent with, the provisions of the Final Agreement. Since 1989, considerable preliminary work has been done at the sites, including: surveys of the built and archaeological resources oral histories projects on both sites archival research on both sites temporary repairs to buildings at Rampart House more detailed archaeology at Rampart House The investment in the two sites is in the order of $200,000 made by the Government of the Yukon, the Vuntut Gwitchin First Nation and Parks Canada. RAMPART HOUSE/LAPIERRE HOUSE Management Plan 1 BACKGROUND Section 3.3 of Schedule B of the Vuntut Gwitchin First Nation Final Agreement states that the management plans should be guided by the following principles: 1) the protection, conservation and interpretation of the Heritage Resources at Rampart House and Lapierre House in accordance with national and international standards; 2) the recognition and protection of the traditional and current use of Rampart House and Lapierre House by the Vuntut Gwitchin; and 3) the encouragement of public awareness of and appreciation for the natural and cultural resources of Rampart House and Lapierre House. The terms of reference further stated that the plans should: 4) allow for the management and operation of the sites using resources available in Old Crow, 5) have realistic and achievable goals outlined in implementation plan schedules and budgets, and 6) contribute to the cultural and economic health of the Vuntut Gwitchin First Nation. The Terms of Reference developed for the preparation of this management plan specified that the management plans for the Sites be combined in one document and that the implementation plan coordinate the management of the two Historic Sites. This document therefore presents under one cover