| Náátsʼihchʼoh National Park Reserve | |
| Iucn Category: | II |
| Iucn Ref: | [1] |
| Map: | Canada#Canada Northwest Territories |
| Relief: | 1 |
| Location: | Northwest Territories, Canada |
| Nearest City: | Tulita |
| Coordinates: | 62.3756°N -127.9578°W |
| Area: | 4850km2 |
| Established: | December 18, 2014 |
| Visitation Num: | 109 |
| Visitation Year: | 2022–23[2] |
| Governing Body: | Parks Canada |
Náátsʼihchʼoh National Park Reserve [3] is a Canadian national park reserve, located in the Northwest Territories and encompassing areas of the South Nahanni River watershed. The name means "stands like a porcupine" in the Dene language.[4] The national park reserve covers an area of 4850km2,[5] protecting the Sahtú Settlement Area of the upper South Nahanni watershed, which adjoins with Nahanni National Park Reserve; the two adjacent areas are, however, managed separately (similarly to Banff and Jasper, two adjacently-situated parks in Alberta).
Náátsʼihchʼoh National Park Reserve, which lies within the Mackenzie Mountains, takes its name from Nááts’ı̨hch’oh (Mount Wilson) at the north end of the park. Nááts’ı̨hch’oh is the Shúhtagot’ine description of the mountain, meaning "standing like a porcupine quill", a reference to its unique shape—sharp and pointed on the top, much like a porcupine's quill. The mountain itself is credited with great powers. The area has been well-travelled and long valued for hunting and its wealth of natural resources; the entire region is of great personal value and cultural importance for the Shúhtaot’ine (Mountain Dene, a Sahtu group), of the Tulita District.[6]
The main waterways through the area are the South Nahanni (Tehjeh Deé) and the Broken Skull Rivers, the latter merging with the South Nahanni. Paddlers can descend the South Nahanni's "rock garden" by starting at Nááts’ı̨hch’oh Tué (Moose Ponds), or take the less technically-difficult Broken Skull. The highest peaks within the park are Nááts’ı̨hch’oh (Mount Wilson), at 2245m (7,365feet), and an unnamed peak, at 2456m (8,058feet), near Nı́onep’eneɂ Tué (Backbone Lake; formerly Grizzly Bear Lake).
Fauna of the region includes many iconic North American species, such as American black bear, grizzly bear, gray wolf, boreal woodland caribou and moose,[7] in addition to Dall sheep and Rocky Mountain goats in the montane areas (the northernmost Canadian population of the latter).[8] Smaller mammalian species present include various rodents and lagomorphs, such as Arctic hare, beaver, collared pika, hoary marmot, muskrat, porcupine and snowshoe hare. These largely herbivorous animals are, in turn, followed by and hunted by several species of smaller carnivores, including the Canada lynx, red fox, marten, mink, ermine, and the largest mustelid, the wolverine; North American river otters hunt for fish in the riverine habitats.
The intention to create a park reserve was announced by the federal government on April 7, 2008, with establishment to follow a negotiated impact and benefit plan between the government and the Sahtu Dene and Métis. The government signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the "Sahtú organizations (land corporations) established under the land claim agreement representing the Dene and Métis of the Tulita District." The Government contributed $500,000 to assist the land corporations and help aboriginal communities develop an impact and benefit plan.[9] The area is becoming industrialized with "roads, pipelines, exploration for minerals, oil and natural gas, and development of mines and wells." The park will prohibit the opening of new mines, but existing claims will be respected.[9] [10] Originally, the land was meant to be used for an extension of Nahanni National Park Reserve, but the Dene and Métis people in the Sahtu Region lobbied for a plan that would make their area of land different from Nahanni, which is claimed by the Dene of the Dehcho Region.[11]
On February 26, 2003 the Government of Canada announced the withdrawal of approximately 7600km2 of land for the establishment of the park.[12] The official announcement was made on April 7, 2008 by Federal Environment Minister John Baird who said, "with this historic agreement announced today, we are once again taking action to protect Canada's North for future generations."[4] It was the fifth conservation related announcement made by the government within a year.[4] [13] Following the announcement, three plans for the park boundaries were proposed. The region is known for its mineral potential, and mining companies were concerned that the park would limit their access to these minerals. The first scenario would have made the park 6450km2, protected 94 per cent of the upper watershed of the South Nahanni River, 95 percent of the grizzly bear habitat and 81 percent of the woodland caribou summer habitat, leaving 20 per cent of the overall mineral potential outside of the park's boundaries and potentially available for development. The Government of Canada chose the third option for the final park boundary that leaves 70 per cent of the overall mineral potential outside the park while retaining 70 percent of the grizzly bear habitat and 44 percent of the summer calving grounds of the woodland caribou herd within the park boundary."[14] During negotiations, concerns were raised about the impact that mining the region would have on the South Nahanni watershed.[14] Mining industry representatives, however, said "even the third option would limit access to areas with big potential for development. But of the three plans it was their preferred choice. They said mining could be carried out in environmentally sustainable ways and it would bring economic benefits to local residents."[14]
In March 2012, federal, Dene and Métis representatives signed an impact and benefit plan for the park reserve. That August, Prime Minister Stephen Harper visited the area, and announced the reserve's boundaries and its establishment,[14] which was realized just over two years later, on December 16, 2014, following passage of legislation under the National Parks Act.[15] [16] Nááts'ihch'oh thus became the eighth National Park Reserve in the national park system. Official announcements gave no indication of when the reserve—or its neighbour, Nahanni—would gain full national park status.