Calgary 
Parks Canada has launched a public consultation to determine the potential for a new national park in the Teetł’it Gwinjik (Peel River) Watershed in northeast Yukon.
Study area for a proposed national park in the Teetł’it Gwinjik (Peel River) Watershed./Credit: Parks Canada
The proposed park area is located in northeast Yukon, near the Yukon-Northwest Territories border. While the Gwich’in and Nacho Nyak Dun have traditionally lived in and stewarded the watershed, it remains largely undeveloped, with few roads and no permanent residents.
It is home to various species, including caribou, moose, bears, and species at risk.
A public consultation period will run from February 3 to March 17, 2025.
Canadians are invited to share their views and ideas via a survey available online. The feedback will help determine whether establishing a national park in the region is viable.
Potential benefits of the park include ecosystem protection, Indigenous-led conservation, support for cultural practices, biodiversity preservation, and economic opportunities tied to land-based activities. The study will also consider possible boundaries for the park.
The Gwich’in Tribal Council, First Nation of Nacho Nyak Dun, Parks Canada, and the Government of Yukon are collaborating on the project following the signing of a Collaboration Accord on April 19, 2024.
The feasibility assessment will not determine the park’s creation but will evaluate its desirability and practicality. If all parties agree, the next step would involve negotiating an establishment agreement for the proposed national park.
