Herbert Nakimayak

I started at Tuktut Nogait as a patrolman in the 2001/2002 season before moving on to work in other national parks (Revelstoke and Glacier NP, Yoho NP, Banff NP, and Kootenay NP).

What is now known as Tuktut Nogait was ingrained in my family long before I was born. My dad Jonah Nakimayak and his parents used the land as they travelled from Kugluktuk to Paulatuuq by dog team. Jonah was also a cultural host with his buddy Ruben Green; they were an amazing team that made sure everyone felt safe and educated on the history of TNNP's significance to the community!

My fondest memory in the park is definitely hiking with former patrolman Eugene Green, Chris Ruben from Paulatuuq, and other parks Canada employees. We paddled down the upper Hornaday River doing raptor surveys and saw thousands of caribous up close as they migrate past our campsites.

I remember when a warden from Banff came, and I guided him on a 10-day hiking tour identifying lakes and plateaus for an aircraft landing site. I was responsible for the camping gear, and he was responsible for the food. We had trail mix every day, so we mixed it up with fishing. He forgot to bring toilet paper and asked me if I had any! I thought for a second and said no when I actually had one roll—but I knew that it would last me only 10 days. By the end of the trip, all his pockets were torn off and socks shortened; even his long sleeve shirt was a t-shirt by the end. On our last day just before the plane came to get us, he had to go, so he was looking for something to wipe with. I gave him my last bit of toilet paper and he looked at me funny. We had a good laugh after the seriousness calmed down!

The views of the "A" section make the Brock River one of my favourite places, as the scenery is absolutely amazing! La Roncière Falls is breathtaking; the narrow section of the upper Hornaday is one cool place! The fishing is amazing in any lake that you go to. It could be a major food source for the community in the future.

There are too many cool things that I've come across, but the eight-foot-high wall of marble that stretches a few kilometres is a sign that it is rich in minerals. There are also a large number of old village sites that are thousands of years old, including food caches and blinds made to hunt caribou as they migrate.

at home as people like my dad, Nelson Green, Tony Green, Peter Green, Albert Ruben Sr., Ray Ruben, John Max Kudlak and others talked about how they wanted to ensure that Traditional Knowledge was part of Tuktut Nogait’s development. This, to me, was most interesting growing up—trying to picture what they were talking about. Today I fully understand, and it has inspired me to work for the best interests of our people.

Edward Ruben, Billy Ruben, Garret Ruben, Sam Green, my granny Mary Evik Ruben, Bertha Ruben, Nora Ruben, Joe and Annie Illasiak, and Norman Kudlak were some of the important Elders who were involved in the creation of Tuktut Nogait. I'm sure they are beaming with pride as they are the ones that made our hometown. They would want to see more programming for youth and Elders in the park and the community. Tuktut Nogait is such a unique place and they wanted to protect the Bluenose caribou for future generations.

I see the 25 years of Tuktut Nogait as an example of strong negotiators from Paulatuuq achieving a dream of protecting our land, and most of all continuing our way of life for generations to come. I'm proud to say that my father Jonah Nakimayak would be proud of how far we've come in co-management and the opportunities that Tuktut Nogait has given the community of Paulatuuq. We have an office in the community and locals are working