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THIS IS OUR LAND. WE ARE THE LAND.

TAHLTAN STEWARDSHIP INITIATIVE

The Tahltan Stewardship Initiative (TSI) is our opportunity for transformative change based on the recognition of Tahltan Title and Rights. Now, we have a say in decisions that matter for our people in accordance with our values and knowledge. We decide how to protect our culture, care for our lands, water, air, fish, and wildlife. We decide how to sustainably manage our natural resources and economic development in our territory. TSI means Tahltans working together to transform how things are done. Through TSI, the rules are changing. And we are shaping the process.

Vision Statement The Tahltan Stewardship Initiative (TSI) will support the Tahltan Nation to assert self-determination and fulfill our inherent stewardship and caretaking responsibilities for our territory. Stewardship is the careful and responsible management of something entrusted to one’s care. The TSI will help the Tahltan Nation to plan for and manage our land, water, air, wildlife, and natural resources. It will ensure we take care of Tahltan Territory now and for future generations. By conserving wildlife, managing economic development, protecting our environment and relationship with the land (including culturally significant areas) and asserting jurisdiction over Tahltan Territory, we will advance our role in and refine shared decision-making processes.

TAHLTAN CENTRAL GOVERNMENT – FA LL NEWS LETTER 2021

Background The TSI is a forward-thinking approach to our ongoing responsibilities to affirm and progress self-determination. The opportunity to further advance shared decision-making for land, water, wildlife, and natural resource decisions in Tahltan Territory has arisen from the Province of British Columbia’s Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples Act (DRIPA). This legislation brought forward in 2019 intends to harmonize provincial laws with the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP).

This means recognition of the Tahltan right of free, prior, and informed consent regarding lands, water and natural resource use, the preservation of Tahltan culture, traditions and ceremonial practices, and the right for Tahltans to participate in decisionmaking matters which affect our rights will be supported in this framework. Recognizing the timing of this opportunity and building upon the progress of previous work, the Tahltan Central Government (TCG) is supporting the TSI to advance Tahltan interests. The message from the Nation is clear: Tahltans have never ceded or surrendered our lands and continue to exercise our rights and jurisdiction over Tahltan Territory. The Nation is vested with the sacred responsibility to manage our lands and resources for the benefit of all Tahltans.

TAHLTAN STEWARDSHIP INITIATIVE

FOUNDATIONAL EFFORTS & INITIATIVES Initiatives that have contributed to this work include:

1980s

The Tahltan Ancestral Study with Elders

1987

Resource Development Policy

2003

Out of Respect Report

2005 2013

The Shared Decision-Making Agreement with the Province of British Columbia

2016

Formation of the Tahltan Heritage Resources Environmental Assessment Team (THREAT)

2015

Lands Department formed within the Tahltan Central Government

Wildlife Department formed within the TCG

2017 2018–2021

The Collaborative Stewardship Framework with the 3 Nations and the Province of British Columbia

2020

The Klappan Plan and the Klappan Management Board

2019

Culture & Heritage Department formed within the TCG

Fisheries Department formed within the TCG

Each of these projects and efforts has helped to advance our Nation and support our unified goals founded on the principles of mutual respect, recognition, and reconciliation of Tahltan title and rights. Together, we work to protect the environment, safeguard our culture and heritage, ensure shared revenues and other benefits from sustainable development, and strengthen the well-being of our Tahltan Nation family. 52

TAHLTAN CENTRAL GOVERNMENT – FA LL NEWS LETTER 2021

TAHLTAN STEWARDSHIP INITIATIVE – PROJECTS & AGREEMENTS · TSI PROJECT UPDATES

CURRENT TSI PROJECTS & AGREEMENTS TSI will align related Tahltan governance, reconciliation, land management projects and activities from the TCG Communications and External Relations, Culture and Heritage, Fisheries, Lands, and Wildlife Departments.

TSI will also include related activities and projects initiated with the Province of British Columbia and Canada by agreement. This includes (but is not limited to) the following: •

Canada Nature Fund Target 1 Challenge: Establishing Tahltan Indigenous Protected & Conserved Areas (IPCAs)

Below is a list of projects under the TSI: Assessment of Ecosystem Services & Climate Change Resilience

•

Ice Mountain Agreement / Conservancy

•

Shared Decision-Making Agreement (SDMA)

•

Capacity Development Project

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Shared Prosperity Agreement (SPA)

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Caribou Stewardship Project

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Tahltan Land Stewardship Planning (TLSP)

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Communications and Engagement Project

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Tahltan-BC Joint Land Use Plan (TBCLUP)

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Cultural Heritage Project

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Wildlife Accord

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Ecosystem & Climate Project

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Fisheries Stewardship Project

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GIS Spatial Database Project

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Land Governance Framework & Operational Policies Project

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Predator Program

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Tahltan Guardian Program

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Tahltan Infrastructure Assessment (Energy, Access, & Mineral Potential)

•

Tahltan Indigenous Protected & Conserved Areas (IPCAs) Project

•

Tahltan Land Stewardship Plan

•

TCG Archives Project

•

Water Resources Project

•

Youth Stewardship Program

•

TAHLTAN CENTRAL GOVERNMENT – FA LL NEWS LETTER 2021

TSI PROJECT UPDATE The TSI continues to build our capacity as we develop and work on this important project. We are building our foundation for increased community engagement and Tahltan participation in the TSI.

We know that we need to plan for the next seven generations to support stewardship of our lands. Both our short term and long-term strategies will help us achieve this vision. All TSI projects support one or more of our three key strategies:

Key Strategies

Elder Input on TSI Vision Statement During discussions with Tahltan Elders, we heard that air should be added to the draft TSI vision statement. Stewarding our air is another important piece of taking care of Tahltan Territory from a holistic perspective. Our draft vision is now:

Refine shared decision-making relationships with British Columbia and with Canada for Tahltan Territory and establish recognition and understanding of the three governments and their respective roles and responsibilities in decision-making;

2. Ensure the Tahltan Central Government has the internal capacity to support decision-making, manage operations and engage communities for land stewardship decisions; and, 3. Ensure decisions are made based on Tahltan knowledge and worldview, local knowledge, and science.

“The Tahltan Nation will fulfill its inherent stewardship responsibilities for all lands, water, air, wildlife, fish and natural resources in Tahltan Territory.” Air quality impacts our health and environment. Air pollution can have both local and global consequences, whether seen or unseen. You may look outside your front door and see a haze from wood smoke or remember smoke in the sky from nearby forest fires. Climate change and depletions to the ozone layer may be caused by air pollution that we do not see. Air pollution can also result from air travel, building heights, and flight paths that disturb animal habitats and simple enjoyment that require Tahltan perspectives and values. Air quality goes beyond the enjoyment of breath, but the full enjoyment of Tahltan life connected to space and landscape. We will continue to work with Tahltans to modify our vision so that it best reflects our Tahltan values. We will continue to listen to Tahltans and will be working with the Language Department to identify language speakers to support us with translating our vision into Tāłtān and finding the right words and terms that reflect what we are trying to achieve.

TAHLTAN STEWARDSHIP INITIATIVE – TSI PROJECT UPDATE · PROJECT I NTRODUCTIONS

PROJECT INTRODUCTIONS Further to the project introductions shared in our Summer Newsletter, we would like to introduce two additional TSI projects:

GIS Spatial Database The Tahltan Spatial Database Platform will provide a strong foundation for accessing, storing, and managing all spatial data related to Tahltan lands. The database will be a collection of information that permits the entry, storage, input, output, and organization of that data.

– PROJECT OVERVIEW The goals for the Tahltan Spatial Database Platform are to deliver a platform that can achieve the following services: 1.

Easy ability to upload information, design and modify information collection for all programs, interpret and develop products to support programs, and design analysis outputs generated from field and office reporting;

2. Automated analysis and outputs for Tahltan Stewardship Initiative (TSI) components, and department programs which can be used for internal or external uses (including the Internet); 3. Security and protection of Tahltan knowledge; 4. Reasonable capacity requirements for delivery of TSI components;

9. Types of products, analysis, and data management needed for TSI; and 10. Bandwidth and technical capacity requirements to meet the current bandwidth infrastructure and upcoming fiber optic infrastructure.

– PROJECT BACKGROUND It is recognized that a comprehensive, complex, public and membership oriented, digital spatial platform is required to support the TSI and its subcomponents including: •

Phase 1 Land Use Plan (LUP) with the Government of British Columbia;

•

Government-to-Government (G2G) land decision-making;

•

Internal Tahltan capacity development;

•

Government-to-Government (G2G) operational LUP relationship;

•

Neighbouring Nation-to-Nation relationships;

•

Indigenous Protected and Conserved Areas (IPCAs) candidate areas and program delivery; and

•

Alignment with Tahltan land use initiatives

5. Ease to communicate with leadership, membership, proponents, and other governments; 6. Efficient and affordable maintenance and updates by a third party; 7. Technical support and training options for selected TSI personnel; number of users, hardware, upload and download speeds; 8. Annual cost of operating the platform;

TAHLTAN CENTRAL GOVERNMENT – FA LL NEWS LETTER 2021

Capacity Development Project: Phase 1 Assessment The Capacity Development Project will support the Tahltan Central Government (TCG) to ensure it has the internal capacity to support decision-making, manage operations and engage communities for land stewardship decisions. This project will support TSI goals to expand the TCG Lands, Fisheries, Wildlife, Culture and Heritage, Finance, and Communications Departments. It will also help identify Tahltan stewardship training, professional development needs and opportunities in partnership with the TCG Education and Training Department.

– PROJECT OVERVIEW This project will be conducted in three phases. Phase 1 will be conducted in 2021/22, however certain activities that are part of Phase 2 and Phase 3 will also be carried out as needed. The phases are:

Phase 1: Assessment & Baseline Phase 2: Strategic Planning Phase 3: Implementation Phase 1 objectives include: 1. To conduct an Organizational Capacity Assessment for TCG Lands, Natural Resources and Culture & Heritage Departments by February 2022. 2. Review and document history of each department. 3. Facilitate staff awareness and participation in department workshops to: a. Identify “what we currently do”. b. Identify “what we want or need to do” to meet our stewardship responsibilities. c.

Identify current and future gaps in capacity (human resources and/or tools) to meet our stewardship responsibilities.

d. Conduct a Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, Threats (SWOT) analysis. 57

4. Create pre-TSI organization charts for each of the participating departments. 5. Support Department Directors on strategic planning including visioning, team charters, and principles. 6. Support Department Directors on drafting expressions of interest for capacity positions.

– PROJECT BACKGROUND Working towards shared decision-making for land and natural resource decisions requires organizational capacity and readiness to meet our responsibilities as stewards of the land. The Tahltan Central Government (TCG) has experienced significant growth during the last decade including the additions of the Fisheries Department and the Culture & Heritage Department to the Natural Resource Management Administration. This growth is partially in response to the growing complexity of natural resource management and stewardship of Tahltan Lands. Climate change, development pressures, overfishing and harvest of our wildlife populations aligned with the implementation of the Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples Act (DRIPA) contribute to the increasing complexity of how we make decisions to care for our land. The TSI brings the Natural Resource Departments together working towards a common vision; continued stewardship of all lands, water, wildlife, fish, and natural resources in Tahltan Territory for future generations. Sometimes when an organization grows quickly, time is not available to build the necessary foundation to support people to do the necessary work. “Capacity building is the systematic strengthening of the capabilities of an organization to perform more effectively.” This project will support the TCG to ensure it has the internal capacity to support decision-making, manage operations and engage communities for natural resource management decisions that support our stewardship goals.

TAHLTAN STEWARDSHIP INITIATIVE – PROJECT I NTRODUCTI ONS · PROJECT UPDATES

TA H LTA N S T E W A R D S H I P I N I T I AT I V E

Project Updates Predator Program The Tahltan Central Government (TCG) Wildlife Department has prepared in advance for the upcoming wolf trapping season. The strategy this 2022 winter is to use all known sources of information to target wolf packs that are specialized caribou hunters. Guardians will assist recovering Boreal Mountain caribou herds within Tahltan Territory by trapping areas determined at a community level and substituted with TCG wolf collaring data.

A special thank you in advance for all the community members that continue to assist our program by providing sightings on wolves in Tahltan Territory. Any information such as the number of wolves seen, the color of animal or animals, and/ or location of fresh tracks is important for us to collect and monitor.

The trapping techniques used by the Wildlife Guardians will be a hierarchy trapping system designed to target the alpha male and female of the wolf pack. After a trap site or location is chosen, bait is used to collect reconnaissance information such as number of wolves in pack, direction of travel, number of days to return to bait site and comfortability at the site. Using wolf urine or scat from another wolf pack, a post/rock is chosen to attract the alpha, and a squirt of urine is applied, enticing the alpha wolf into a territorial reaction of an intruder. This creates the need to investigate!

Maps and statistical information will be updated as Wildlife Guardians continue to collect information (diet, population, and density) for each of the collared wolves in Tahltan Territory. Currently fourteen active wolf collars provide locational data every six hours 365 days /year. We are in the second year of a three-year project. The BC Provincial Wolf Management Plan estimates a high-moderate density in Tahltan Territory. 5–15 wolves per 1000 sq km (2020 Estimate from Tahltan Predator Plan), 470–1400 wolves based of high-density estimate. Last winter, the Guardians removed a total of twelve wolves and the Tahltan Predator Program removed an additional fifteen wolves for a total of twenty-seven wolves in 2021.

Once an initial wolf catch is made, the opportunity for a recatch in the same location becomes a possibility. First the wolf must be removed from the trap by dispatching the wolf and removing the wolf from the site without leaving a trail of scent. The Wildlife Guardians use foot hold traps either anchored to a live tree or bound by a drag chain with grapple hook. The wolf foot must be removed from the trap and the trap needs to remain in the ground.

Above: Guardian’s observing a wolf from a pack traveling over Snow Peak after collaring for monitoring.

TAHLTAN CENTRAL GOVERNMENT – FA LL NEWS LETTER 2021

As many traps or snares as needed can now be applied around the initial catch circle, providing a greater opportunity to catch more members of the pack. The remaining members of the pack will come back to investigate the disappearance of their leader, allowing a strategic removal of the next in command and so forth until only the lowest ranking members of the pack remain. This strategy removes the learned behavioural techniques taught from the alphas to pups. Contact a member of the TCG Wildlife Department if interested in targeting wolves this 2022 winter by either hunting or trapping. We can provide: •

Up to twelve wolf snares – Boiled and ready to use!

•

Electronic Predator Calls that can be signed out to assist in hunting wolves.

TCG Archives Project – Sandra Marion This last summer, we were able to kick off our on the land Elder interviews via helicopter flights out to remote areas in the territory. It was quite successful, and we have some lessons learned that we will implement when carrying out the 2022 interviews. The purpose of these interviews was to facilitate knowledge-sharing with the younger generation about remote areas that our Elders may not have been able to access in some time, and ground truth the 1980’s Elder interviews. Each Elder was able to bring one family member. The Elders guided the interview and shared with us the information they wanted to share. We recorded the interviews and look forward to sharing these recordings with the Elders and their families as soon as they are ready. We had a five-day window where we booked a few helicopters in Tahltan Territory and scheduled Elders on a first come, first served basis. We focused on Elders in territory because of COVID-19 travel regulations, but we look forward to reaching out to all Tahltan Elders over the next three years as this is a multi-year project. A big thanks to Loretta Sort, Carmen Dennis, and Tanya Louie in each community who helped me with outreach. We managed to get five solid days of flying done, with a couple of flights a day. The majority went to Sheslay, with one flight to Fish Lake (Prairie Lake on Google), and the other flight passed over the Iskut to Telegraph Creek, BC trail. 59

TAHLTAN STEWARDSHIP INITIATIVE – PROJECT UPDATES

One example of the ground truthing work we were able to do was the flight to Fish Lake. It was an interesting task because of how I had to locate it on the map. When you go on Google, for coordinates, you come up with three Fish Lakes in our Tahltan Territory. I needed to narrow this down.

If you are interested in learning more about this project or participating in the future, please email me at culturedirector@tahltan.org

Our Elder, Verna Callbreath, had not been out there since she was young and gave me as much information about the area as she could. She had mentioned that it is in a trapline that belonged to her father. I referenced the trapline map that we have in head office and found two traplines under the same family name (Henyu) with a Fish Lake in one, a Prairie Lake and two smaller unnamed lakes in the other. The first one is east of Dease Lake and through discussions with the trapline owner, who is also a relative of Verna, I was able to rule out that lake. So, I went to the other trapline in the North. I wanted to make sure it was the right lake because it was quite a long flight from Dease Lake. My next step was to reach out to our GIS technician and ask her to keyword search Fish Lake in our 1980’s Tahltan Ancestral Study (TAS) data and I was able to pinpoint three Elders’ interviews who spoke of a Fish Lake, and it was cross referenced in the study that they were referring to Prairie Lake. When we flew Verna out to Fish Lake. It brought back many memories for her, and she was able to pinpoint exactly where their family’s cabin was. Unfortunately, it was very overgrown and so the pilot could not land nearby. We are hoping we can have an opportunity to rectify that for her in the future. Each Elder/knowledge keeper was able to bring one family member out with them on the flights. This was to facilitate the passing of knowledge from one to the other. We had contacted Janet and Henry Vance and they asked if their daughter and grandson could go with them. So, we had our youngest participant for this round, Kaleb Vance who is seven years old.

The TCG Archives Project is moving along steadily. We have been busy getting maps flattened and have received our large and robust fire safe cabinets which will hold all our most valuable information, starting with our genealogy and membership documents. We have been building a homemade humidifier with a large bin, some poly, and a bucket. We have been wrapping the maps in poly and humidifying it to saturate the paper, then lay it flat between two boards with weights on them. So far, we are happy with the results, and we are looking into acquiring a map scanner to record all the available maps we have in house.

TAHLTAN CENTRAL GOVERNMENT – FA LL NEWS LETTER 2021

Youth Stewardship Program Reflection Bria McLean TSI Youth Stewardship Officer Love at first sight. Caribou running, wolves escaping. How did I get here? I ask myself and recollect. Opportunity, challenge, connection. A step towards something I thought I knew little about but was interested in learning more. Stewardship. To take care of our land is much more than an action or occupancy. It is a collection of spirit, community, ancestry, living beings, land, survival, future generations, core identity, and well-being. Applying to work as a Tahltan Youth Stewardship Officer led me to work with many departments of the Tahltan Central Government. The invaluable thing about the Youth Stewardship Program is that youth can tailor the work to their interests as they relate to the Tahltan Stewardship Initiative (TSI). I happen to connect with the hands-on part of taking care of the land and learning our history and current standing so we can advance forward in this ever-changing world. The priceless highlights for me have been learning on our territory working with the Tahltan Guardians, as well as diving into the Tahltan Ancestral Study (TAS)

interviews, learning ways of the past.

Reading words from my great grandmother and seeing how she spoke her interview completely in Tahltan instilled a fire in me to make her proud and apply myself to effect positive change on our lands and in our communities. My experience training and absorbing teachings with the Guardians has ignited a passion for ungulate protection and becoming further equipped to safely take people out in our territory. I am grateful for the experiences, certifications, and education I have received through this work. It has been exciting and varied. I not only wish to continue to build my skillset to better serve my Nation but also encourage other youth to join me. Apply, and see what pathways may be in your future.

TAHLTAN STEWARDSHIP INITIATIVE – YOUTH STEWARDSHI P PROGRAM REF L ECTI ON & PROGRAM

Youth Stewardship Program The Tahltan Youth Stewardship Program aims to build confidence, interest, knowledge, and opportunities for youth so that they increasingly see themselves as capable young people, future community leaders, and Tahltan territorial stewards. The program seeks to strengthen youth leadership by restoring cultural and land-based connections through hands-on learning and experience.

– PROJECT OVERVIEW The Youth Stewardship Initiative aims to hire five Tahltan youth from May to August each year of the TSI. The program is organized to provide opportunities for Tahltan youth to receive focused technical training and cultural education while working alongside Communications & External Relations, Culture & Heritage, Fisheries, Land, and Wildlife Directors, Elders, Guardians, local knowledge holders, and other mentors. During the program, youth may conduct scientific and Tahltan knowledge research, work with local technicians, other youth programs and young people, receive training, and visit and learn about places of long-standing cultural importance to Tahltan communities.

– PROJECT BACKGROUND As young Tahltans grow and develop, they want and seek opportunities for leadership and input into Nation building and stewardship activities that will maintain and sustain Tahltan ways of life. The Youth Initiative Program will create an empowering culture amongst our youth to provide them with a sense of responsibility, inviting them to contribute to the TSI vision, while inspiring them to pursue careers in natural resource management.

Interested? To learn more, contact Christine Creyke at: tsi.coordinator@tahltan.org

TAHLTAN CENTRAL GOVERNMENT – FA LL NEWS LETTER 2021

INTRODUCTION TO

TAHLTAN LAND STEWARDSHIP PLANNING Our Tahltan Declaration of 1910 states,

“We claim the sovereign right to all the country of our tribe — this country of ours which we have held intact from the encroachments of other tribes, from time immemorial, at the cost of our own blood.” To achieve this in today’s world, we need to have:



The legal authority to make decisions about our lands;

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Plans that describe how we will ensure proper stewardship of our lands;

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The understanding and ability to manage our lands; and,

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The internal capacity to do all these things at a level as good as or better than outside governments.

TAHLTAN STEWARDSHIP INITIATIVE – INTRODUCTION TO TAHLTAN LAND STEWARDSHIP PLANNING

TSI is working to build these core elements, and others, so that we can fulfil our inherent stewardship responsibility to our homelands. This responsibility is entrusted to us as Tahltan people by our Creator, Ahdigi dene ti’e. Stewardship planning is an important part of the TSI and an important tool that will help us meet our stewardship responsibility. There are two main plans that we are working on under the land stewardship planning component of the TSI, a Tahltan Land Stewardship Plan and a collaborative Tahltan-BC Land Use Plan.

1. Tahltan Land Stewardship Plan: -

This plan will build on previous planning work to create a Tahltan approved stewardship plan for Tahltan Territory by August 2022. It describes how we want to take care of our lands so that it remains healthy into the future and can continue to support our relationship, and the way we live with our lands.

2. Tahltan-BC Land Use Plan: -

This plan will be built and approved by the Tahltan and the Province of British Columbia. It is targeted to be done by April 2023 and will be one of the key tools that will inform land use decisions under a new Government-toGovernment (G2G) decision making relationship between the Tahltan and British Columbia.

TAHLTAN CENTRAL GOVERNMENT – FA LL NEWS LETTER 2021

The following table summarizes important parameters for each of these plans:

PLANNING AR EA

Tahltan Land Stewardship Plan

TahltanBritish Columbia Phase 1 Land Use Plan

 All Tahltan Territory

PLAN B UILT BY

 Tahltans

P L A N A P P ROV E D BY

 Tahltans

OV E R A L L PURPOSE OF THE PLAN

 Describes how the Tahltan want to take care of Tahltan Territory  Will be the Tahltan’s decision making tool if the joint plan or the G2G decision making relationship do not materialize

 Tahltan Territory excluding areas that overlap with neighbouring First Nations’ territories and the Klappan Plan area but includes the Sheslay  Phase 2 is planned to include the rest of Tahltan Territory if the Tahltan & BC agree to proceed and the Tahltan have worked out arrangements with neighbouring First Nations

 Tahltan and British Columbia with input from additional Stakeholders

 Both Tahltan and BC governments

 Becomes the main tool that will support land use decision making under a new governmentto-government Tahltan-BC decision making relationship (supplemented by local research for specific projects)

TAHLTAN STEWARDSHIP INITIATIVE – INTRODUCTION TO TAHLTAN LAND STEWARDSHIP PLANNING

METHOD USED TO CREATE THE PLAN

PLAN CONTENT WILL INCLUD E

PLAN WILL BE US E D TO

 A Tahltan-made methodology that is developed by Tahltan, reflects the Tahltan way of seeing and knowing the land, and fully engages the Tahltan community

 Information collected from Tahltan, including previous planning processes, supplemented with additional information collected from Tahltan during this process

 Provide a way for Tahltans to have a say in how to take care of Tahltan Territory

 Informing Tahltans’ participation in the joint Tahltan-BC planning process

 Educate Tahltans about Tahltan Territory

 Helping Tahltan people become more grounded in, and better understand Tahltan Territory

 A jointly agreed (to be developed) methodology  Expected to be based on much of the Tahltan-made methodology for the Tahltan Land Stewardship Plan (which can inform the Province’s Modernizing Land Use Planning Initiative)

 Most of the content in the Tahltan Land Stewardship Plan (except confidential information)  Additional content to support governmentto-government decision making across all land use sectors

 Ensure that the Tahltan stay strongly connected to the land through supporting cultural, spiritual, sustenance and economic uses

 Support G2G decision making  Align thinking and create shared understanding on values and land stewardship between Tahltan and the Province

P L A N P ROV I D E S OT H E R B E N E F I T S S UC H AS

PLAN WILL BE UN IQ UE B EC AU SE

 It will use a Tahltanmade planning methodology  It will be mainly focused on how to take care of the land

 Supporting the development of internal Tahltan planning capacity  Allowing Tahltan to better direct the joint Tahltan-BC planning process

 Clearly establishes that other parties are outside of the Tahltan-BC governmentto-government relationship  Establishes the Tahltan as a competent and equal partner in land use planning

 It will show the provincial government how to plan for ecosystem health and maintaining Indigenous relationships on the land  It is expected to move away from historical negotiated trade-off land use planning processes

TAHLTAN CENTRAL GOVERNMENT – FA LL NEWS LETTER 2021

•1 •

TSI BASE M A P DR AF T MAP v1.1 – 2021/06 LOCA L I T Y LAKE L A NDFOR M TA HLTA N N AT ION T ER R I TORY Charlie Crole Creek Ecological Reserve

EC OLOGICA L R ESER V E PR OT EC T ED A R E A PR OV INCI A L PA R K

NA H LIN MOUNTA IN

KAWDY MOUNTA IN

HL IN

Chickens Neck Ecologica Reserve

RI VE R

D EAS E L A

LEVEL MOUNTA IN RA NGE

A RIVER

YR IVE R

S H ES L AY

Z AN

TA HLTA N

S HE

DE A SE

TUY

Tahltan Nation continues to do research and assemble further information and data, and adjustments to the boundaries reflected in this map may be made in the future where appropriate and supported by evidence.

This map represents the general boundaries of Tahltan territory based on the information available and reviewed as of the date of its creation. It does not represent a definitive or final statement of the areas to which Tahltan Aboriginal title and rights apply.

T UYA M O UN TAI N PARK

IVER

TSENEGLODE M O U N TAI N

KL AS TLI N E PL ATEAU

T EL EG RA P H C REEK

•51 •

TSAZIA M O U N TAI N

•37• ISKUT

C H U TINE RIVER

TODAGIN LAKE

ED Z I Z A MOUNTA IN

TODAGIN M O U N TAI N TAD OG LI N S . SLOPE PARK K IN ISK AN LAK E PARK

ISKUT

RIVER

LITTLE K L A

S T I K INE RIVER

MOUNT EDZIZA PARK

I SKU T RIVER HOT SPRIN G S PARK

NIN

GUN

RIV

UK U

LAVA FORKS PARK

Craig Headwaters Protected Area

BO RDE R LA KE S PA RK

TRE

NIN NI N GUN S AW PARK

RIV

Ningunsaw River Ecoogical Reserve

GRE AT GLACIE R & CHO Q UE TT E HOT SP RINGS PA RK

Y C REEK

SECTION TITLE

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AKE

E L AKE

NAG

AIN RIV ER

D ENETI AH PAR K

ST I K I N E R I V E R PA RK

Pitman River Protected Area

STIKINE RIVER KLA

P PA

IVE NR R

Chukachida Protected Area Gladys Lake Ecoogical Reserve

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KI LO M ET ER S

FINLAY RUSSEL PA RK

S PATS IZI PL ATEAU W I L D E R NESS PAR K

SPATSI Z I M O U N TA IN

K L A P PA N M O U N TA I N R

UPP

I S R

NAS

S PAT S I Z I HE ADWAT E R S PARK

TATL ATUI PARK

TAHLTAN CENTRAL GOVERNMENT – FA LL NEWS LETTER 2021

Youth Representative Article Kyle Risby

TSI Youth Representative What is water stewardship? Tu (water) provides animals, plants, humans, and earth with fuel for life. Our life begins with water and our planet supports life due to the amount of water earth contains. We have a responsibility to maintain our water resources for future generations. Our role in water stewardship is more than words on paper but continued actions including good governance, clear expectations and being on our land as guardians to ensure we are protecting our waters. Tahltans are fortunate to have the responsibility and obligation to steward water so future generations can enjoy water access. How we approach water stewardship is going to be important to ensure that Tahltan values and interests play a key role in decisions because our water resources influence all activities in our territory from maintaining our salmon and wildlife to other activities like mineral development and hydro projects. The importance of water stewardship through Tahltan oral history is captured in the raven cycle oral history when discussing the origin of fresh water. Raven is told by humans that a man named Kanu’gu owns the water, and he only received a mouthful. Wealthy people who can pay for it get a little more from him. Raven goes to meet Kanu’gu and calls him “brother-in law” and asks for water. Raven is told “water is very scarce. I can only give you a mouthful.” Raven watched where he kept the water and began thinking of a plan. Raven asks Kanu’gu where he found the water. Raven leaves Kanu’gu’s and when he returns, he tells him “I found some water in a certain place. There is much of it there. You are not the only one who possesses water.” Kanu’gu almost believes him, and Raven says that he will work for his food and will chop and split wood.

Raven while helping Kanu’gu plays a trick making him believe he soiled his bed. Raven tells him that if he wants to redeem himself from the embarrassment he must walk away from his house. Raven blinds him briefly and then drains the water from the hiding place Kanu’gu kept the water. Raven tried to escape the house through the smoke-hole and Kanu’gu put pitch-wood on the fire to make thick smoke. Raven waited in the crosspiece and was covered in soot and became quite black; that is the reason why ravens are black. Before, this event, Raven was white. Raven flew off and scattered water all over the country saying, “henceforth water will run here and there all over the country, and everyone will have plenty of water.” As Tahltan continue to enjoy the water scattered in our lands, we are mindful of allowing everyone access and enjoyment of our water. Tahltan water stewardship will be an important part of the Tahltan Stewardship Initiative (TSI). With rising global temperatures and water demands, our future generations will have an important role in water stewardship. What does water stewardship mean to you?

TAHLTAN STEWARDSHIP INITIATIVE – YOUTH REPRESENTATI VE ARTI CL E · TSI WEBSITE ANNOUNCEMENT

ANNOUNCING THE BRAND NEW

TAHLTAN STEWARDSHIP INITIATIVE WEBSITE

Check it out! Announcing the launch of the brand new Tahltan Stewardship Initiative (TSI) website! The cornerstone of the TSI is community involvement. Our website will have unique, members only information on each of our projects, engagement opportunities, interactive mapping, surveys for our projects – and more.

 Visit: tsi.tahltan.org

Get Involved! Questions? Comments? We want to hear from you: Contact TCG TSI Communications:

communications@tahltan.org

The TSI website will have members only content. If you are a Tahltan member and require assistance obtaining your password to log in, please contact: 

250-771-3274,



receptionist@tahltan.org



1-855-TAHLTAN (824-5826) or,