SIRMILIK National Park of Canada DRAFT Management Plan January 2014 DRAFT Sirmilik National Park Management Plan January 2014 Cover Photographs (The final version of the management plan will include photos.) © Her Majesty the Queen in Right of Canada, represented by the Chief Executive Officer of Parks Canada, 201X. Cette publication est aussi disponible en français.ᐅᓇ ᐊᒥᓱᓕᐅᖅᑕᐅᓯᒪᓪᓗᓂ ᓴᖅᑭᖅᑕᐅᓯᒪᔪᖅ ᐊᑐᐃᓐᓇᐅᒻᒥᔪᖅᑕᐅᖅ ᐃᓄᑦᑎᑑᖓᓪᓗᓂ. National Library of Canada cataloguing in publication data: Parks Canada Sirmilik National Park of Canada management plan. Sirmilik National Park of Canada management plan [electronic resource]. Type of computer file: Electronic monograph in PDF format. Issued also in French under the title: Parc national du Canada Sirmilik, plan directeur; and in Inuktitut under title: Sirmilik mirnguisirvik kanatami, aulattinirmut parnautit. ᓯᕐᒥᓕᒃ ᒥᕐᖑᐃᓯᕐᕕᒃ ᑲᓇᑕᒥ, ᐊᐅᓚᑦᑎᓂᕐᒧᑦ ᐸᕐᓇᐅᑎᑦ. Available also on the Internet. Paper: ISBN (to be included when the Management Plan has been approved) Cat. no. (to be included when the Management Plan has been approved) PDF: ISBN (to be included when the Management Plan has been approved) Cat. no. (to be included when the Management Plan has been approved) 1. Sirmilik National Park ____Management. 2. National parks and reserves—Nunavut—Management. 3. National parks and reserves—Canada—Management. I. Title. Paper: FC…..( to be included when the Management Plan has been approved) PDF: FC…..( to be included when the Management Plan has been approved) For more information about Sirmilik National Park of Canada: Sirmilik National Park of Canada P.O.Box 300, Pond Inlet, Nunavut, Canada, XoA 0S0 tel: (867) 899 8092 , fax: (867) 899 8104 e-mail: [email protected] www.parkscanada.gc.ca/sirmilik i DRAFT Sirmilik National Park Management Plan January 2014 FOREWORDS to be included when the Management Plan has been approved MINISTER’S FOREWORD (to be included when the Management Plan has been approved) QIA PRESIDENT’S FOREWORD (to be included when the Management Plan has been approved) NWMB LETTER (to be included when the Management Plan has been approved) RECOMMENDATION STATEMENT (to be included when the Management Plan has been approved) ii DRAFT Sirmilik National Park Management Plan January 2014 ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS The preparation of this draft management plan involved many people. The input of this diverse group of individuals will result in a plan that will guide the management of the park for many years. The following individuals have made special contributions to the draft plan and deserve mention: Sirmilik Park Planning Team Stephen Dicks, Parks Canada Josée Lefebvre, Canadian Wildlife Tyler Harbidge, Parks Canada Service Daniel Komangapik, Pond Inlet Susanne Emond, Canadian Wildlife Abraham Kublu, Pond Inlet Service Sirmilik Joint Inuit/Government Park Planning & Management Committee Jacob Anaviapik, Pond Inlet Andrew Taqtu, Arctic Bay, Chair Leah Kalluk, Arctic Bay Tommy Tattatuapik, Arctic Bay Gesoni Killiktee, Pond Inlet Steve Wendt, North Gower Inuit Knowledge Working Groups of Pond Inlet and Arctic Bay (current and past members): Morgan Arnakallak Koonoo Oyukuluk James Atagootak Elijah Panipakoochoo Phillip Attagutaluk Andrew Sangoya Samson Erkloo Paniloo Sangoya Ikey Kigutikarjuk Kigutikarjuk Shappa late Joseph Koonoo Jessie Shooyook Abraham Kublu Peter Tattatuapik Rita Nungaq Parks Canada Staff Nancy Anilniliak Andrew Maher Patrick Carroll Maryse Mahy, Planner Jane Chisholm Gary Mouland Lynn Cousins Margaret Nowdlak, Planner Trainee Carey Elverum Lucy Netser Garry Enns Pauline Scott Kathy Hanson Marie Stradeski Terry Kalluk Monika Templin Brian Koonoo Inuktitut translations and interpretation during this planning process were completed by a number of individuals, including Mishak Allurut, Morgan Arnakallak, Titus Arnakallak, Malachi Arreak, Abraham Kublu, Lucy Netser, Elisha Pewatoalook. The primary French translator was Chantal Vincent. Qujannamik! iii DRAFT Sirmilik National Park Management Plan January 2014 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY Sirmilik National Park is located in the North of Baffin Island, near the communities of Pond Inlet (Mittimatalik) and Arctic Bay (Ikpiarjuk). At 22,200 km2, it is among the largest national parks in Canada. It was established in 2001 and is co-operatively managed by Inuit and Parks Canada in accordance with the Nunavut Land Claims Agreement, the Inuit Impact and Benefit Agreement of Auyuittuq, Quttinirpaaq and Sirmilik National Parks and the Canada National Parks Act. Two key strategies are proposed to guide the work for the foreseeable future in the management of the Park. Working with local Inuit communities is central to both strategies. Each key strategy will build on existing relationships in ways that enable the Agency to better carry out its mandate and enable communities of Pond Inlet and Arctic Bay to meet their aspirations. Key Strategy 1: Developing Sirmilik National Park’s visitor experience program This strategy focuses on developing visitor experience opportunities in Sirmilik National Park along with the tourism industry and the communities of Pond Inlet and Arctic Bay. The strategy aims at achieving the following: increasing visitation to the park diversifying visitor experience opportunities including through interpretive products and programs respecting the wilderness experience sought by visitors continuing to promote visitor safety respecting Inuit harvesting and cultural activities supporting tourism capacity development in Pond Inlet and Arctic Bay in collaboration with other organizations. Key Strategy 2: Increasing knowledge of and awareness about Sirmilik National Park The focus of this strategy is to enhance the knowledge base on the park, protect its ecosystems and cultural resources and build the connection of Canadians with the park. This strategy relies on the relationship between Parks Canada and the communities of Pond Inlet and Arctic Bay, and partnering or working closely with various organizations, including universities, the Canadian Wildlife Service and the Qikiqtani Inuit Association, the Inuit Heritage Trust. This will result in increased awareness of the park to partners, potential visitors and the general public. The strategy aims at achieving the following: pursuing inventories, research and monitoring of ecosystems and cultural resources, including oral histories and Inuktitut place names collecting and using Inuit knowledge on an ongoing basis determining the heritage value and identifying the cultural affiliation of cultural resources enhancing the relationship between Parks Canada and the communities of Pond Inlet and Arctic Bay including through activities in the park for youth helping to bridge the gap between researchers and the communities developing outreach and education products and programs on the park for residents of Pond Inlet and Arctic Bay and other Canadians, including using the Parks Canada website. iv DRAFT Sirmilik National Park Management Plan January 2014 v DRAFT Sirmilik National Park Management Plan January 2014 Contents FOREWORDS to be included when the Management Plan has been approved ............................ ii ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS ........................................................................................................... iii EXECUTIVE SUMMARY ........................................................................................................... iv 1. INTRODUCTION ...................................................................................................................... 1 2. SIGNIFICANCE OF SIRMILIK NATIONAL PARK............................................................... 2 3. PLANNING CONTEXT ............................................................................................................ 4 4. PLANNING PRIORITIES.......................................................................................................... 6 5. VISION ....................................................................................................................................... 9 6. STRATEGIC DIRECTION ...................................................................................................... 10 7. AREA MANAGEMENT .......................................................................................................... 14 8. ZONING AND DECLARED WILDERNESS AREAS ........................................................... 16 9. SUMMARY OF STRATEGIC ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT .................................. 29 APPENDIX ................................................................................................................................... 31 vi DRAFT Sirmilik National Park Management Plan January 2014 1. INTRODUCTION Parks Canada manages one of the finest and most extensive systems of protected natural and historic areas in the world. The Agency’s mandate is to protect and present these places for the benefit and enjoyment of current and future generations. Forward- thinking, strategic management of each national park, national historic site, national marine conservation area and historic waterway supports the broader Parks Canada vision that, Canada’s treasured natural and historic places will be a living legacy, connecting hearts and minds to a stronger, deeper understanding of the very essence of Canada. The Canada National Parks Act (2000) and the Parks Canada Agency Act (1998) require Parks Canada to produce a management plan for each national park. The Nunavut Land Claims Agreement (1993) and the Inuit Impact and Benefit Agreement