Date: June 19, 2024

Today, the Inuvialuit Game Council, Inuvialuit Regional Corporation, Aklavik Hunters and Trappers Committee, Aklavik Community Corporation, Government of Yukon, and Government of Canada are announcing the creation of the Aullaviat/Anguniarvik Traditional Conservation Area, an area rich in biodiversity covering almost 850,000 hectares of the Yukon’s northeast coast. 

This historic ratification was put into motion 40 years ago with the signing of the 1984 Inuvialuit Final Agreement which identified the entire northern portion of the Yukon as a place for conservation of wildlife, habitat and traditional Inuvialuit use.

"Aullaviat/Anguniarvik means ‘where wildlife and people travel, a place to hunt’ and this place has been a vital part of the Inuvialuit homeland since time immemorial,” says William Storr, Representative, Aullaviat/Anguniarvik Working Group. “The traditional use and management of this area is central to our Inuvialuit culture, identity and values. We are proud to finally establish an agreement with Canada and the Yukon that will allow us to continue to take care of the animals and sustain our culture.”

The parties to the agreement have developed a management plan for the area to ensure conservation and traditional Inuvialuit use. This announcement completes the network of protected areas across the northern Yukon envisioned in land claim agreements - including Ivvavik and Vuntut National Parks and Herschel Island Qikiqtaruk Territorial Park - that together support the important wildlife populations such as the Porcupine Caribou Herd, polar bears, migratory birds and many other species. 

“Our government is pleased to sign onto the Aullaviat/Anguniarvik Traditional Conservation Area Agreement,” says the Government of Yukon’s Minister of Environment, Nils Clarke. “We are committed to supporting Indigenous-led conservation in the Yukon to help protect and restore nature and biodiversity which aligns with the goals of the Canada-Yukon Nature Agreement. Thank you to the Government of Canada and the Inuvialuit for bringing this historic agreement to fruition which will be instrumental in preserving Inuvialuit culture, identity and values, and protecting and conserving wildlife, habitat and biodiversity in the area for generations.”

As an Indigenous-led conservation area, the Government of Canada has contributed $10 million toward a trust fund that will support the creation of a guardians and monitoring program, enhancement of Inuvialuit traditional use, support cultural revitalization, and capacity-building for the current and future generation of Inuvialuit conservation leaders. Philanthropic Foundations have contributed an additional $3.5 million, bringing the total trust fund to $13.5 million. 
 
“Indigenous-led conservation is one of the most important pathways for achieving Canada’s biodiversity goals and sustaining long-term conservation gains. Congratulations to the many partners who have worked toward the creation of the Aullaviat/Anguniarvik Traditional Conservation Area over the last 40 years.” says the Honourable Steven Guilbeault, Minister of Environment and Climate Change. “This historic agreement ensures the region’s lands, waters, and biodiversity will remain conserved for future generations and is an example of Canada’s ongoing commitment to a distinctions-based approach for Inuvialuit. Through partnerships like this, Canada continues to make progress toward conserving 30 percent of lands and waters in Canada by 2030.”

The goals of the conservation area and its management plan include the following:

• Promote, support and maintain Inuvialuit traditional use in order to preserve Inuvialuit culture, identity and values;

• Protect and conserve the wildlife, habitat and biological productivity and contribute to the implementation of the goals of the Inuvialuit Final Agreement, the Porcupine Caribou Management Agreement and the Wildlife Conservation and Management Plan;

• Advance the biodiversity goals and objectives of Canada and Yukon and the Inuvialuit Parties and support Canada’s biodiversity targets;

• Support Inuvialuit stewardship of the area’s wildlife, habitats and environment in response to a rapidly changing climate;

• Provide resources to Inuvialuit to play a primary role in the management and monitoring of the area; and

• Contribute to reconciliation amongst the Parties.

Quick Facts:

• The Government of Canada is making progress toward its goal of conserving 30 percent of lands and waters by 2030.  Aullaviat/Anguniarvik covers almost 8,500 square kilometres, an area larger than Banff National Park, and contributes  towards Canada’s conservation goals.
• The Aullaviat/Anguniarvik Traditional Conservation Area covers 1.8 per cent of the Yukon’s landmass. Reporting it as protected to the Canada Protected and Conserved Areas Database increases the Yukon’s total protected areas to 21.1 per cent and contributes to the goals of the Canada-Yukon Nature Agreement.
• The Trust Fund was created from contributions from the federal government and third-party donors 444S Foundation, Art into Acres in partnership with Re:wild, the Wilburforce Foundation, and the Wyss Foundation. The Trust fund will earn income over time that will be used for the management of the Area.
• Inuvialuit residing in Aklavik and Inuvik, Northwest Territories, are the main users of Aullaviat/Anguniarvik
  

For more information, including additional photos, quotes, and a map of the area, download our press kit below:

Live Stream of Signing Celebration
Stream the signing celebration live starting at 3pm MT here.

Associated Links

• Environment and Climate Change Canada's Press Release
• Yukon Government's Press Release
• Aullaviat/Anguniarvik Traditional Conservation Area 
• Yukon North Slope Wildlife Conservation and Management Plan
• Inuvialuit Final Agreement
• Canadian Protected and Conserved Areas Database
• Protected Areas Program: Strategic Program Plan and Vision to 2030
• Canada's Nature Legacy Target One Challenge Map
• Canada-Yukon Nature Agreement
• Porcupine Caribou Herd

Allison Thompson, coordinating interviews on behalf of the Inuvialuit Parties
Program Manager, Wildlife Management Advisory Council (North Slope)
athompson@wmacns.ca
604-910-6631

or

Jennifer Smith
Chair, WMAC NS
chair@wmacns.ca
867-332-8333 

Social Media Handles

• WMAC North Slope's Facebook page
• Environment and Climate Change Canada’s Facebook page
• Environment and Climate Change Canada’s Twitter page
  
• Government of Yukon's Facebook page