OLD CROW – The Peel watershed may be miles away from this remote village on the Porcupine River, but support for the final recommended land use plan seems to be as strong as anywhere else.
In part because the Peel is part of the Vuntut Gwitchin’s traditional territory and in part because it includes some of the Porcupine caribou herd’s winter range.
Despite howling winds and blowing snow, several dozen people turned up at the Yukon government’s open house, held at the community hall on Monday.
But they weren’t interested in visiting the “stations” set up to provide information on what one bureaucrat referred to as the two plans – the commission’s and the government’s.
Nor were they prepared to simply converse with one of the six officials on an individual basis.
They wanted a public presentation so the people could understand why the government had come to the community of 250 and what it wanted.
They also wanted the chance to speak and to ask questions, like at normal public meetings.
After some serious arm twisting by former politician Lorraine Netro, the government finally, but reluctantly, agreed to do both. But not until 3 p.m., just an hour-and-a-half before officials had to jump back on the charter plane that had delivered them from Whitehorse shortly before lunch.
For the first time during this round of consultations, government planner Jim Bell gave a power point presentation that spelled out the government's take on the Peel. The only problem was he spoke so quietly most people could hardly hear what he had to say, including several elders.
Then it was the public’s turn to talk and their message was loud and clear: stick with the final recommended plan.
That’s the plan developed by the planning commission, which included a Vuntut Gwitchin representative, they said.
The plan that protects 80 per cent of the watershed and is based on seven years of research and consultation.
And the plan that has almost nothing in common with the government's new plan or "concepts."
"It's completely different," said Netro when it was her turn to speak.
And that's not going to fly.
“Our position, that was clearly stated to the commission when they came to Old Crow, is we want 80 per cent protection of that area,” she said.
“I don’t think that’s changed and I don’t think that’s going to change.”
The final plan reflects what most Yukoners want, said Stanley Njootli Jr., who chairs the North Yukon Renewable Resource Council.
“This is the voice of the people - this final recommended plan - and I think it should stand as the final recommended plan,” he said.
The process for developing the regional land use plans is laid out in the Umbrella Final Agreement, resident William Josie reminded the government.
Straying from that process could bring land use planning to a halt and send the whole issue to court, he said.
The North Yukon land use plan, finalized in 2009, is the only one that’s made it through the entire process.
And although it had its problems, that process “went quite well” in comparison to the Peel, said Nick Gray, who works for the resource council.
Noticeably absent from the community meeting was the Vuntut Gwitchin First Nation government.
Unlike the 2010 consultations held jointly by the Yukon and four First Nations government, this time around the territory has decided to go it alone.
First Nations say that’s contrary to the UFA and its land use planning provisions. With possible lawsuits looming, now they’re treading carefully when it comes to the dealings on the Peel with YTG.
Once the public comment period closes Feb. 25, the Yukon plans to hold government-to-government consultations with the First Nations.
Those attending the Old Crow meeting also took a few moments to pay silent tribute to Peel commissioner Steve Taylor, who died suddenly on the weekend.
The former Tr’ondek Hwech’in chief was on the commission when it produced the final recommended plan. He was also the First Nation’s representative on the Dawson Regional Land Use Planning Commission.
Next week the Yukon government wraps up its community meetings with open houses in Tsiigehtchic, Fort McPherson and Inuvik.
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