Blog

April 30 2024

What’s The Point? Dàmäwtän and the need for remediation

Written by Laurence Fox, Conservation Coordinator | April 30, 2024

Dàmäwtän is Southern Tutchone for “High Bank” and known by modern settlers as “The Point.” It’s located on the lower reaches of Chasàn Chùa (McIntyre Creek) where it empties into the Yukon River. Traditionally, Dàmäwtän served as an important lookout for local First Nations, as well as a staging ground for hunting and fishing, and a meeting place.

In 1942, the U.S. military promptly set up shop in Whitehorse to begin construction on the Alaska Highway. They quickly started using Dàmäwtän as a landfill for both the Canadian and U.S. military, displacing the First Nations people who camped and harvested in the region. After World War II ended in 1945, the U.S. military left and the dump briefly closed until the City of Whitehorse began using it for municipal purposes in the 1950s.

Abandoned tires at Dàmäwtän (The Point). Photo by Laurence Fox.

Largely unregulated, the dump site appears to have faced little environmental oversight or monitoring for the majority of its operational life. In some places along the bank, garbage deposits were as thick as 45 meters—so deep that if you had dug down to the bottom of all this trash, you could set three city buses vertically, hood to bumper, one on top of the other, in the hole you made.

When the dump was officially decommissioned in 1975, “clean up” was rudimentary at best, consisting primarily of pushing dirt up over the berm to cover the mess, and even that appears to have been rather slapdash. Dirt was simply pushed in over the dump, leaving bits of metal, tires, household waste, and other debris poking up through the thin covering.

What’s The Point? Dàmäwtän and the need for remediation

Satellite photo of Dàmäwtän (The Point). Photo from Google Earth.

Concerns have been growing for decades around the damage—environmental, aesthetic, cultural, or otherwise—dumping has done to Dàmäwtän. Care for the Creek builds on the many other clean-up efforts led by concerned citizens, the Yukon Fish and Wildlife Management Board, and extensive clean-up work undertaken by Ta’an Kwäch’än Council (TKC), stewardship groups, and various other government agencies. For example, TKC removed 16 tonnes of scrap metal and 16 dump truck loads of abandoned tires, then resodded and reseeded the areas with native plants to encourage healthy revegetation between 2005 and 2012.

Today, waste such as tires, metal, car parts, and plastics continues to affect the landscape, waterways, and wildlife, creating physical hazards and potentially releasing hazardous chemicals. During a clean-up in 2023 led by the Yukon Fish and Wildlife Management Board, volunteers found dried fish eggs and bird eggs that didn’t have a chance to hatch, and tracks on shore from many mammals who likely rely on the creek for water.

In a few weeks, CPAWS Yukon and the Yukon Fish and Wildlife Management Board, in collaboration with KDFN and TKC, are hosting a Care for the Creek Community Event, dedicated to caring for, celebrating, and remediating Chasàn Chùa and the Dàmäwtän area. Join us Saturday, June 1st for a free BBQ, guided walks, and guest lectures!

Care for the Creek!

April 15 2024

Travelling in the Yukon? Be a respectful guest

CPAWS Yukon Blog

Travelling in the Yukon?

LEARN HOW TO BE A RESPECTFUL GUEST

Written by Paula Gomez Villalba, Communications Coordinator | April 15, 2024

The Yukon is a tapestry of twisting rivers, towering mountains, tundra, and vast boreal forests. These lands and waters are also the traditional territories of 14 Yukon First Nations, the Inuvialuit, and transboundary First Nations in British Columbia, Northwest Territories, and Alaska.

Guests travelling anywhere in the Yukon are visiting the traditional territories of a First Nation or the Inuvialuit. In visiting these areas, you are taking on a responsibility and duty to show respect and gratitude for its stewards, as well as the land, water, and animals.

Whether hiking, paddling, berry picking, hunting, or fishing, we must learn to be respectful guests and honour the stewardship that makes exploring these wild spaces possible.

Read Walk With Us – Respectful Travel Guidelines

Know the nations on whose lands you travel on

Treat the land, water, and animals with care and respect

Leave no trace

Give thanks to the land in your way

Share your journey and gratitude

Support First Nation on the land and stewardship initiatives

Read Walk With Us – Respectful Travel Guidelines

Generations of Indigenous stewardship have shaped the territory’s rich wild spaces — there are documented traces of humans in the Yukon from 24,000 years ago.¹ This stewardship is deeply rooted in traditional teachings that recognize the interconnectedness between the land, water, wildlife, and people.

Start by reading Walk With Us – Respectful Travel Guidelines created by the Yukon First Nations Culture and Tourism (YFCT) with direction from First Nations Knowledge Keepers.

“As you travel through our beautiful homelands, we invite you to Ná t’sin t’ra “hold everything up in respect” – Northern Tutchone.”

Know the nations on whose lands you travel on

✓ Whose land are you visiting?

✓ Learn about its history and culture

When preparing to travel, learn the names and history of the Indigenous Nations’ homelands you will visit. Native-land.ca is a great resource for identifying whose traditional territories you’ll be on.

Take time to learn the teachings and stories connected with these lands. YFCT has a Welcome Guide which is a great resource. Check in and respect any rules, restrictions, or permit requirements that specific First Nations may have in effect.

Yukon First Nations:

Treat the land, water, and animals with care and respect

Waiting for the Fortymile caribou herd to move off the road. Photo by Malkolm Boothroyd.

Respect the natural behaviours of wildlife who rely on the land for food, safety, and to care for their young. Keep a safe distance and move away if you notice that they are reacting to your presence. Don’t feed wildlife, and especially avoid disturbing animals during the harsh winters or sensitive breeding periods when they need their energy.

Existing roads and highways connect us to different wild spaces, but they traverse through wildlife habitats, potentially exposing animals who need to access other areas. Stay alert, slow down, and watch for wildlife ahead while driving. The Yukon Conservation Officer Services has shared that high collision areas include the Southern Lakes region (including the Alaska Highway, South Klondike Highway, Carcross, Tagish and Atlin Roads), Kluane country near the base of Thechàl Dhâl (Sheep Mountain), and Watson Lake area from Lucky Lake to Big Creek (between kilometre 1021 and 1048).

Stick to designated trails and campsites if possible. Concentrate your activities on areas with durable surfaces like rock, sand, or deep snow. In remote areas, disperse your impact to avoid creating new trails or campsites.

Drones can negatively impact wildlife, Indigenous subsistence activities, and the overall experience of being out on the land. In some areas like national parks, the use of drones is prohibited, so be sure to do your research first. Show respect for others by avoiding flying over campsites and people. Follow these guidelines by Parks Canada to respect wildlife:

If an aircraft causes an animal to move, flee, or change their behaviour, then it is too close
Never circle, chase, hover over, dive towards, or pursue wildlife
Whenever possible, minimize the amount of time circling before landing
Avoid flying directly over or towards animals
Caribou calving grounds should be avoided whenever possible
Where practicable, pilots should maintain a minimum 1.1 nmi (2 km) horizontal distance from all wild sheep, mountain goats, and caribou
Maintain an altitude of 3500 ft (1067 m) AGL above areas with bird concentrations (colonies or moulting areas)
Plan routes that minimize flights over habitats likely to have birds and avoid sensitive areas such as moulting areas and raptor nesting sites

✓ Give wildlife space

✓ Minimize your impact

✓ Reduce speed when using motorized vehicles

✓ Keep wildlife attractants contained

✓ Limit drone use

Leave no trace

Grizzly bear tracks remind us to tread lightly. Photo by Malkolm Boothroyd.

Take with you what you bring, and leave the rest as you find it. Before moving on to a new area, inspect where you were for trash or food scraps, making sure to securely pack everything out. Human trash pollutes sensitive landscapes and puts wildlife at risk, altering their behaviour and threatening their health. If you see trash, pick it up and dispose of it properly.

Leave stones, natural structures, or other materials where you find them. Some may hold cultural significance and others might be an animal’s food or home. Landscapes in the Yukon are sensitive and slow-growing, everything has its role.

If you need to build a campfire, be safe and opt for a portable stove or use a fire pan to reduce your impact. Keep campfires small, far from vegetation (at least 3 metres), and never leave them unattended. In an average year, nearly one-third of fires in the Yukon are caused by human activity.² It’s very important to let the wood and embers burn down to ash, soaking the campfire with buckets of water or burying it with sandy soil until the ashes are cool to the touch. The Yukon government has a Wildfire Hub with information on current fires, bans, and potential resulting travel restrictions.

As more people explore the Yukon and climate change progresses, many invasive species are settling in the territory and pushing out native ones. Minimize their spread by brushing off all dirt and plant debris from your gear before going to a new area. If travelling by water, clean, drain, and dry all parts of your watercraft.

✓ Pack it in, pack it out

✓ Leave everything as you find it

✓ Prevent wildfire

✓ Minimize the spread of invasive species

Give thanks to the land in your way

A moment of stillness on the Wind River. Photo by Bethany Paquette.

As you travel in the Yukon, take moments to pause and express gratitude for the privilege of experiencing their beauty. Reflect on what you learned about the specific First Nation’s history on these lands, and how their stewardship shaped your experience. Whether it’s a quiet moment by a rushing river or a peaceful pause atop a mountain peak, acknowledge the land’s generosity and resilience in allowing you to tread upon it.

✓ Express gratitude

Support First Nation on the land and stewardship initiatives

Show your support for Indigenous initiatives by contributing to First Nations stewardship funds. These funds play a crucial role in supporting communities’ agency and efforts to conserve their traditional land for future generations. Opt for Indigenous-owned or operated tourism companies to directly support Indigenous communities and engage in authentic cultural experiences. Advocate for the recognition and support of Indigenous Protected and Conserved Areas (IPCAs) and Land Guardian programs which are vital for preserving biodiversity, cultural heritage, and traditional knowledge.

✓ Support First Nation initiatives

By embracing these principles of respect, gratitude, and community, travel in the Yukon can honour the generations of stewardship, intricate relationships within ecosystems, and the rights of Indigenous people to ensure that the territory’s wild spaces will thrive for years to come.

This webpage is a living resource that we’ll continue to update as we engage with local First Nations and develop additional resources to help you travel respectfully. If you have suggestions or feedback, feel free to reach out at info@cpawsyukon.org.

April 2 2024

Stony Creek, More Valuable Than Gold

CPAWS Yukon Blog mining

Stony Creek, More Valuable Than Gold

CPAWS Yukon supports citizens concerned about the impact a placer mining project could have on their drinking water

Written by Laurence Fox, Conservation Coordinator | April 2, 2024

Would you want someone mucking around for gold in the water that you and your family drink? Many residents of Mendenhall have said they most certainly do not.

CPAWS Yukon stands alongside members of Champagne and Aishihik First Nations and Kwanlin Dün First Nation, along with other residents of Mendenhall who have recently expressed deep concern around a proposed placer mining project at Stony Creek.

Map of the proposed project location, from the YESAB Registry document #2024-0001-0040 Map Package.

Located around 11 km northeast of Mendenhall and 52 km northwest of Whitehorse, the proposed project is currently under review with the Yukon Socio-Economic Assessment Board (YESAB). The claims fall within the traditional territories of both Kwanlin Dün First Nation and Champagne and Aishihik First Nations. To get at the gold thought to be below, the project would have to divert up to 1700 meters of Stony Creek which residents say is a vital source of drinking water, as well as ecologically sensitive habitat for wildlife.

“We use this water to raise our children, take care of our elders and nurture ourselves. We also collect and rely on this water for our beloved animals and organic vegetable gardens, which helps feed us throughout the long winters.”

– Public comment on the proposed Stony Creek mine

Residents expressed their opposition to the proposed project during the public comment period, worried it will negatively impact water quality and damage the community. If the project went forward, residents say they would be forced to use water from the community fill station, which some say is of poor quality, or haul water in from Whitehorse. Others have expressed concern about the proposed project’s impact on subsistence activities like hunting, fishing, and berry picking.

“The many negative effects of this project would be felt by several hundred residents, as well as precious wildlife, aquatic resources, heritage resources, vegetation and hiking trails.”

– Public comment on the proposed Stony Creek mine

Of special concern is Stony Creek’s importance as habitat for Chinook salmon fry, a species already struggling under numerous other pressures, including industrial development, climate change, and overfishing. Chinook salmon runs have been declining for decades, prompting serious conservation focus on the abysmally low numbers of returning fish among many Yukon First Nations, as well as the Department of Oceans and Fisheries and the Yukon government.

“Stony Creek is a salmon bearing creek. I have personally caught salmon fry in a bucket and immediately released them after identifying the fish as chinook salmon.”

– Public comment on the proposed Stony Creek mine

Google Earth satellite image of Stony Creek.

We believe potential environmental, community, and cultural impacts of mining at Stony Creek far outweigh the monetary quest for gold extraction. Residents of the impacted community and members of the First Nations on whose traditional territory this project would take place have powerfully voiced their concerns—and, in many cases, outright opposition to—this project. We hope YESAB heeds them.

“Leave Stony Creek alone. It’s more valuable than whatever is in the ground.”

– Public comment on the proposed Stony Creek mine

Listen to a moving interview with a resident who lives near the creek and worries that mining would mean the end of a lot of stories, gatherings, and life.

CBC News released a great article based on the interview.

The comment period for the project recently closed, which means YESAB is now preparing their recommendation based on the input provided by the proponent, First Nations, community members, and other parties.

UPDATE JUNE 5, 2024: We’re thrilled to share that YESAB recommended against the proposed placer mine on Stony Creek because its impacts cannot be mitigated. YESAB even recognized the profound effect mining here would have, with their report stating, “this [project] is likely to result in a compromised ability for youth and future generations to pursue their cultural and contemporary activities.” We’re hopeful this means the project will not go ahead.

UPDATE JANUARY 16, 2025: Good news! The Yukon government & Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO) upheld YESAB’s recommendation that the Stony Creek placer mine NOT go ahead.

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March 27 2024

Mining in Whitehorse: Speaking out and wading through potential futures

CPAWS Yukon Blog mining

Written by Randi Newton, Conservation Manager | March 27, 2024

Mining is intertwined with Whitehorse’s past, but should it be part of its future? At City Council’s March 11th public hearing on mining in Whitehorse, the large majority of people who spoke said “No.”

I was there to say the same thing on behalf of CPAWS Yukon. All the chairs were filled at City Hall, so I stood near the back wall. As the hearing went on into the evening and more voices echoed the same sentiment, I sat on the floor with tired legs.

The Gladiator Metals copper exploration project, which has claims that run from Cowley Creek through Chasàn Chùa to Crestview, has fueled concerns about the project itself, as well as broader concerns about the potential impacts of future exploration and mining in Whitehorse. This is why the McLean Lake Residents’ Association, with the support of other community associations and organizations, asked City Council to prohibit mineral exploration and mining within city limits.

Mining in Whitehorse: Speaking out and wading through potential futures

Former tailings facility for the Whitehorse Copper Mine, which ceased operations in 1982. Decades later, trees and shrubs struggle to grow. Photo by Randi Newton.

Standing with my notes in hand, I reflected on the escalating risks and damages mining brings and how important it is for people to have a strong say in the future of Whitehorse, one where the well-being of residents and housing needs are prioritized. The public hearing was a chance for people to share their views and for Council to consider the options at hand:

1
Keep the status quo
(worst option)

Currently, exploration and mining are prohibited in most of Whitehorse but allowed in areas that are zoned as Quarries and considered on a case-by-case basis in areas zoned as Heavy Industrial.

This is why Gladiator Metals was able to get a development permit to drill in the Mount Sima area without any public input.

2
Decide on a case-by-case basis (slightly better but not sufficient)

Under this option, exploration and mining would no longer be automatically allowed in areas zoned for Quarries but would be considered on a case-by-case basis (this is called a conditional use under the Zoning Bylaw).

As so many people at the public healing explained though, the City needs to go further.

3
Prohibit mining anywhere in Whitehorse (best option)

This is the strongest option that’s legally available to City Council and would make exploration and mining prohibited in Whitehorse under the Official Community Plan and Zoning Bylaw. The one confusing catch is that companies could apply to amend the Official Community Plan and the Zoning Bylaw, so it doesn’t fully take exploration and mining off the table. However, this path would involve much more scrutiny than the other options, and give residents and the municipal government a much stronger say.

CPAWS Yukon and most people who spoke at the public hearing supported the third option, prohibiting mining anywhere in Whitehorse.

Map of the Whitehorse Copperbelt area shows in red where mining is currently allowed (IQ – Quarry zones) and where mining is considered on a case-by-case basis (IH – Industrial heavy zones) in orange. Zoning map from City of Whitehorse’s Planning Theme.

What’s next?

To see all of the heartfelt public presentations, you can watch the hearing here.

City staff are preparing a report on the input received and will present this to City Council in April. Depending on which option is chosen, the City will either have more say in whether mining continues in Whitehorse, or little say at all. Sign up for our newsletter to find out what path we’re heading down…

CPAWS Yukon Presentation to City Council

CPAWS Yukon works across the territory to protect land, water, and wildlife, and the connections people have to those values. We are among the chorus of voices asking the City to amend the Official Community Plan and Zoning Bylaw to prohibit all mining activities in Whitehorse, with the exception of reclamation activities.

Pit lakes dot the Whitehorse Copperbelt, signs of past mineral extraction. Most of the rock removed was not valuable and ended up piled in large waste rock piles that have buried the original landscape. Photo by Adil Darvesh.

We recognize that Class 1 mining activities produce minimal impacts when conducted in already heavily disturbed areas, similar to impacts of other heavy industrial uses that are permitted in the city. Mining exploration as a whole, however, is very different than heavy industrial work. When mining exploration is successful, it ratchets up. What starts off as an “acceptable” activity can escalate into activities with far greater impact and which fall outside of the vision residents and Council have expressed for the City.

CPAWS is concerned with the proposed conditional use approach, as we’re unsure of how much power the City would have to say no to the escalation of a project once it has been approved at the Class 1 level. Specifically, we’re worried the City would not have or not always have the authority to say no to a development permit if a project has been approved through the YESAB process and received a territorial permit, or received a Water Licence. A comprehensive legal analysis demonstrating the City would, indeed, have this ability would satisfy us on this point.

Having absolute certainty that the City can maintain the power of veto is critical, as projects can be approved through the YESAB process but not be in the best interest of a community. One example is the mining activity taking place in Dawson City, despite opposition from the municipal government. As YESAB has itself noted, quote “YESAB assessment does not and cannot address the matter of whether a project proposes an appropriate use of land.” End quote.

Among the places in Whitehorse this could flare up is the South Growth Area, which the OCP identifies as a potential future residential area. From what I could tell by eyeballing maps, part of the South Growth Area is overlain by the IQ zone, where mining is currently permitted, and by mining claims. A prohibition on mining within the City would benefit this area, given that the timelines associated with mining permits could stall the provision of acutely needed housing.

Mining is complex and risky. In the past year alone Minto Mine was abandoned with precariously full tailings ponds, Mount Nansen currently has overfull tailings facilities because of water treatment struggles, Victoria Gold was fined for not meeting water storage requirements and storing more water in its heap leach facility than allowed, and Alexco is facing charges for allegedly failing to meet water quality standards. Prohibiting mining within Whitehorse would allow the City to opt out of the demonstrated risks fully licensed projects are prone to.

Articles from CBC News speak to the risks of licensed mining projects, links can be found in the previous paragraph. Background photo by Malkolm Boothroyd.

As noted in a previous meeting by Mr. Wright, there are also concerns that permitting lower levels of mining exploration activity to take place could increase compensation owed if the City refuses to further permit a project and is found responsible for compensation. My understanding is that court precedent in jurisdictions, like here, without mining expropriation and compensation policies, is to require compensation generally equal to what a company has put into its claims.

This considered, what may appear to be a gift of economic development could become more akin to a high interest loan the public must repay. For clarity, I am not a lawyer and not certain this would happen, but I am concerned it could happen, and am looking for assurance that the City has considered this facet of allowing conditional use, and found it nothing to worry about.

Lastly, even if prohibited under the OCP and zoning bylaws, there is still a path forward for mining within the city, as companies can apply to amend both. While this process is more involved, we believe it elevates the project review to an appropriate standard, as this is an issue people obviously care deeply about. An additional benefit of requiring an amendment is that the City can require a proponent to host a public meeting to provide information. Even for Class 1 activities a public meeting would be a great opportunity for two-way dialogue useful to both the company and the public, and help companies earn their social licence.

Looking down at the forest from a tall waste rock pile near the former Arctic Chief pit. While not visible in this photo, McIntyre Creek runs alongside the pile. This area falls within Chasàn Chùa (McIntyre Creek) but has been excluded from the future park boundaries. Photo by Randi Newton.

Additionally, while we are discussing a broader issue than the Gladiator project, I will note that their project includes many claims in zones where mining activities are currently prohibited. To me, this signals an OCP and zoning bylaw amendment, while more intensive, is something the company has potentially already contemplated, or would be capable of navigating.

For all of these reasons, CPAWS Yukon believes a prohibition is the best way to protect the City’s legacy of healthy lands and clean water for people and wildlife.

March 23 2024

Moments from Mayo to Moosehide

CPAWS Yukon Blog, BlogDawsonRegion

Stories and photos by Malkolm Boothroyd and Adil Darvesh | March 23, 2024

Happy World Water Day! Today we’re looking back to July 2022 when First Nations youth spent 9 days paddling along the Stewart and Yukon rivers during the Mayo to Moosehide river trip.

For decades CPAWS Yukon has organized or helped organize and guide on the land trips into different areas. These kinds of trips not only give youth life-changing skills and experiences, but also the agency and confidence to speak up for the land, water, and wildlife. Read on as we spotlight special moments from the journey, which was organized by the Yukon First Nation Education Directorate (YFNED), First Nation of Na-Cho Nyak Dun, and CPAWS Yukon.

“A few days into paddling, the Stewart River started to curve away from the Klondike Highway and we left the highway noise behind. We got to leave the stresses of everyday life behind, trading them in for downtime on the water. There’s nothing quite like it.” – Adil Darvesh

“Rivers are constantly changing. One of our landing spots on the Yukon River was a tricky backwater to catch… or at least it was the last time Jim Boyde paddled here. Jim drew us a diagram in the sand showing where to ferry, and we got back in our boats hyped for a challenge. But when we rounded the corner we found that the river had washed away the obstacles, and the weird currents were no more.” – Malkolm Boothroyd

“On our third day out from Mayo we were hit by two waves of torrential rain, the first as we paddled, the second in the evening as we were cooking dinner. The low angle sun broke through the clouds even as the rain kept hammering down, the intensity of the sun and the rain formed one of the most vibrant double rainbows I’ve ever seen, one of the bands almost touching the wet stones on the bank of the Stewart River. A few moments later the rain and the rainbow were gone.” – Malkolm Boothroyd

“We paddled along areas where First Nations fished and gathered since millennia ago. Most of us also brought our phones and extra battery packs to document and share the experience. Old traditions and new tools came together on the water. In the evenings, a computer pinged in Downtown Whitehorse, five hundred kilometers away, letting our team know we were safe.” – Adil Darvesh

“Usually when I see nighthawks it’s dusk, and they’re chasing insects high overhead. It’s rare to see one up close, but when I do I always marvel at the intricate details in their feathers and their bizarre looking heads. This bird was hanging about on a gravel bar, not far from where we camped one night. It probably had chicks nearby.” – Malkolm Boothroyd

“‘Come get some tea’ hollered Steve Buyck as he poured steaming tea into a series of mugs. Just beside him, Liz Blair shuffled some plates around to add the second of three, yes THREE, rhubarb pies that she baked for our arrival. You could tell they were so excited to welcome us, and we were so happy to see familiar faces!” – Adil Darvesh

This blog post is a social media roundup based on posts shared in 2023 covering special moments from the Mayo to Moosehide river trip. Parts of this trip were in the Dawson Region, where land use planning is currently underway. Getting youth on river trips has been of utmost importance for us at CPAWS Yukon and has more and more been a focus of our work.

February 21 2024

Roots at Risk: A walk through Chasàn Chùa

CPAWS Yukon Blog, BlogMcIntytreCreek

Written by Paula Gomez Villalba, Communications Coordinator | February 21, 2024

On a sunny day nestled in a week of July rain, we came together in Chasàn Chùa/McIntyre Creek to join Plants of the Boreal, a walk and talk series that connects people, place, and plants. CPAWS Yukon has been partnering with like-minded non-profits over the past two years to feature special guests for guided walks on the traditional territories of Kwanlin Dün First Nation and Ta’an Kwäch’än Council in Whitehorse. The forests and wetlands in Chasàn Chùa are home to an array of diverse plants, each with their own unique stories, traits, and roles in the boreal ecosystem.

At the time, Laurence Fox was the outreach manager for the Yukon Invasive Species Council (YISC), although they’re now a part of the team here at CPAWS Yukon! They welcomed us in the gravel parking lot with a pocket field guide to invasive plants of the Yukon in one hand and a friendly pup tethered to the other. I could see a set of pruners poking out from Laurence’s back pocket, and immediately knew we were in for a fun afternoon.

Right in the parking lot, pink and purple fireweed (nàkhela in Southern Tutchone) and white yarrow (ts’agyu) flowers bloomed. Down the trail we saw patches of kinnikinnick (zhǜr nlan), locoweed, and goldenrod. Each plant was different, thriving and reproducing in their own way.

Goldenrod, yarrow, and locoweed. Photos by Paula Gomez Villalba.

As we walked down to the creek through the forest, we learned that many of Yukon’s native plants know the history of the short spring and summer seasons in the territory, having evolved to flower early in the season and form fruits and seeds by late summer. I could see signs of this all around us: prickly wild roses had dropped their petals and started forming bright rosehips (khǘr zhǜr), and clusters of glossy black crowberries (zhǜr tthē) already dotted the forest floor.

Prickly wild rose, crowberries, and even some fireweed plants start producing seeds (inside fruits or capsules) throughout July. Photos by Paula Gomez Villalba.

Unfortunately, these mosaics of colours, textures, and life are at risk…

While adapting to the short growing season traditionally gave Yukon plants an edge, climate change is rapidly changing the North. Warmer temperatures, changes in precipitation, and human disturbance are creating conditions that favour invasive species—introduced, non-native species that cause harm. Some choke out local species, while others change the soil or overgrow, crowding out other plants.

There are eight species of horsetail in the Yukon, and four have been observed in Chasàn Chùa. Photos by Paula Gomez Villalba.

Along the creek where the soils became sandy and exposed, horsetail covered the ground, creating a delicate green mat of thin and intricate branches. Laurence explained that horsetail is one of the oldest plants on the planet, having been around during the Jurassic period and surviving multiple mass extinctions! Yet even these ancient plants are vulnerable to invasive species. Laurence snipped a stalk of white sweetclover growing just a few feet away. They explained how this plant, introduced accidentally through farming, fixes nitrogen in its pithy white roots, making the soil where it grows less hospitable to horsetail and other native species.

Roots at Risk: A walk through Chasàn Chùa

White sweetclover is invasive, and it is now well-established here in the Yukon. Photo by Paula Gomez Villalba.

Many invasive species first establish and spread easily near disturbed areas. White sweetclover loves gravelly soils, like those found along rivers, construction sites, and roadsides. At roadsides especially, sweetclover pushes out fireweed, producing a whopping 300,000 seeds and hitching rides on the soles of people’s shoes or the tires of their bikes and cars. These seeds can lie dormant in soil or water for up to 30 years before popping back up to sprout when conditions are right, which means restoration work requires returning to the same place and removing sweetclover again and again until the seedbank is depleted. It’s a slow process that’s made even more difficult due to the lack of resources dedicated to managing invasive species in the Yukon.

No one is really responsible for evaluating and combating invasive species in the Yukon. The territory’s Wildlife Act defines wildlife only as vertebrate animals, rather than all living organisms like plants. There is no noxious or invasive plant act. As we walked through the forest, Laurence highlighted the importance of writing to your local representatives. The territory needs comprehensive legislation to protect native species and species at risk. Stable, long-term funding is essential for increased awareness and on-the-ground restoration efforts that prevent the further introduction and spread of invasive species.

Ultimately, the future of the northern boreal depends on the actions we take today. White sweetclover is just one of many invasive species whose presence puts much of what makes the Yukon special at risk. Invasive species aren’t inherently better or more suited to the north, they just have a strong competitive edge because human-caused climate change continues to create favourable conditions for them, while simultaneously stressing native species.

Bumblebees and many other animals rely on native Yukon plants to survive. Photo by Paula Gomez Villalba.

Beyond providing space for us to connect with nature, boreal forests and wetlands are biodiversity hotspots that filter water, provide homes for wildlife, and help build resiliency to climate change. Disrupting them triggers significant changes across ecosystems that have taken millenia to evolve. That’s why we need resources to engage and connect people with plants and restore areas that are changing. Find out about future Plants of the Boreal walks and similar events by signing up for our newsletter.

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Southern Tutchone translations from the Yukon Native Language Centre’s Southern Tutchone Noun Dictionary and Champagne and Aishihik First Nation’s Dákwänjé Dictionary.

January 24 2024

Standing at the Intersection of Conservation and Food Security

CPAWS Yukon Blog

Written by Chris Pinkerton, Executive Director | January 24, 2024

In the Yukon, we’re grappling with a stark reality – we’re the third most food insecure place in Canada. This alarming statistic is not just a number; it’s a pressing issue that concerns all Yukoners. Last September, I had the privilege of presenting at the Yukon Food Security Conference as the master of ceremonies, a conference where food producers, emergency food distribution organizations, community support groups, and local businesses came together here to tackle the current state of food insecurity in the territory. Up until a year ago, I was the coordinator for the Yukon Energy Food Security Network, where I worked collaboratively with Yukon communities, advocating for stronger northern food systems. When I started as Executive Director with CPAWS Yukon in January of 2023, the focus of my work shifted to environmental conservation, but I still felt deeply connected to the work and relationships I had built while advocating for Northern food security.

Photo by Yukon Graphic Recording.

During the well-attended two-day conference held at Yukonstruct, we heard from many inspiring speakers. As we milled about between talks, noshing at the snack table or grabbing a quick cup of coffee, people approached me time and time again to ask me the same question:

“It’s great that you still care so much about food security, but why is CPAWS here?”

On one hand, I can understand the confusion—as a conservation organization dedicated to advocating for the territory’s abundant wild spaces, our mandate doesn’t directly appear to speak to food security or food sovereignty. But when people were asking why CPAWS Yukon would bother attending a conference on food security, what they were really saying was that they didn’t see a connection between environmental conservation and food security. Since taking on my role here at CPAWS Yukon, I’ve found that the exact opposite is true—Northern food security and the protection of wild spaces are deeply interconnected. Environmental factors such as climate change, loss of biodiversity, and sustainable community infrastructure are things we talk about in conservation, but they also affect the food systems that support all Yukoners, regardless of culture or community, although this is especially true when we talk about Indigenous food security.

Here in the Yukon, 98% of the food purchased in stores is trucked up the Alaska Highway. This limited infrastructure means food has to be shipped over long distances to get to northern communities, including Whitehorse. Not only does this make food cost more in the North, especially in more remote communities, but the long travel times and cold winter weather means we often struggle with quality as well as quantity. Likewise, food supplies are at risk of disruption from road closures, whether from a car accident, or—as we’ve increasingly experienced due to climate change—forest fires, flooding, and landslides.

Standing at the Intersection of Conservation and Food Security

Wildfire along the Stewart River. Photo by Malkolm Boothroyd.

In 2022, for example, we saw the Alaska Highway closed after a creek washout destroyed a section of the road, and in 2023 the heavy fire season temporarily cut off road access to several Yukon communities. When the highways shut down, it doesn’t matter where you live or how much you earn, the grocery store shelves are just as empty.

Climate change and habitat loss is impacting the Yukon, with some populations of Yukon salmon, sheep, moose, and caribou in steep decline. Beyond the potential for severe ecological impacts, this also has direct, and sometimes dire, effects on Northern food security. This is especially true for First Nations, some of whom—like the Tr’ondëk Hwëch’in and the Forty-Mile Caribou Herd or Kluane First Nation and Dall sheep—have voluntarily reduced or canceled hunting or fishing for culturally important species which they have often relied on for subsistence for generations.

Fortymile Caribou Herd. Photo by Malkolm Boothroyd.

Food sovereignty is the right of peoples to have healthy and culturally appropriate foods produced through socially just, ecologically sound, and sustainable methods. It speaks to the collective right to define one’s own policies, strategies, and systems for food production, distribution, and consumption. We heard about the importance of this from experts at the conference in September. Derek Hasting spoke on the success story of the Tr’ondëk Hwëch’in Farm, which provides local fresh food to Tr’ondëk Hwëch’in citizens, and Clifford Gladue of White Fish Lake First Nation talked about his work to bring traditional foods into schools in Northern Alberta. Many spoke directly about the importance of the access to land, ‘wild’ or otherwise, for both food sovereignty and security.

Moreover, troubling numbers from the Food Bank Society of the Yukon (formerly the Whitehorse Food Bank) have shown an unprecedented increase in demand, with food distribution and client numbers almost doubling since 2020. Food insecurity is a growing issue affecting all Yukoners, not just those living in more remote areas. As an added note, since the COVID-19 pandemic, the Yukon Food Bank has also been shipping food to Carmacks, Faro, Atlin, Haines Junction (and surrounding area), and Watson Lake.

From the conservation side at CPAWS Yukon, it’s hard even to say that we look at it through a different lens. When our team talks, we speak to land sovereignty and the need to steward and protect the land from the pressures of industry and climate change. When staff visit Yukon communities, we hear stories about generations of cultural values and history, and the health benefits that come from connecting to the land. Our conversations are often about respecting the land because it’s where food was harvested to feed communities and raise healthy families. We hear about the value of traditional foods, of moose, caribou, and salmon. We’re told stories about places to hunt, or fish, and places to harvest plants or medicines, and the importance of these things for strong food systems and community wellness. We are taught that the salmon and caribou are keystone species – impacting the health of the land and the water. And we mourn that some communities who once relied on salmon for food are now unable to fish their rivers or to teach their children their history or values at fish camp. Some are even buying and importing fish so community members can have just a taste of their culture and tradition.

Canoe Culture Camp co-organized by the Yukon First Nation Education Directorate, First Nation of Na-Cho Nyäk Dun, and CPAWS Yukon. Photo by Malkolm Boothroyd.

Our work makes it clear that community health, food security, land and water conservation, climate change, and biodiversity loss are all interconnected. As Yukoners, we can’t pick and choose to look selectively at only one part and expect to “fix” anything. When we look at food security (and sovereignty) along with the conservation of wild spaces as two sides of the same coin, we move forward in safeguarding landscapes that protect the well-being of the people who live on them, and vice versa.

If you want to learn more about conservation or food security please reach out to CPAWS Yukon, the Food Bank Society of the Yukon, or the Yukon Energy Food Security Network.

January 10 2024

2023: Our Year in Review

CPAWS Yukon Blog

Written by Adil Darvesh, Communications Manager | January 10, 2024

Another amazing year has come and gone! On an individual level, an organizational level, and even on a broader conservation level, it seems like so much has happened throughout 2023.

We began the year on the heels of some very exciting news for the Yukon. A brand new Canada-Yukon Nature Agreement where the Yukon government formally committed to protecting 25% of the territory’s land and water by 2025 and funding for important conservation initiatives was signed at the COP15 summit in Ottawa. Not only does this provide a concrete direction for Yukon government, but aligns with what we know that Yukoners want.

This is just beginning, and we think there’s still so much opportunity to push even further. Protecting at least 30% by 2030 is a great next step to continue the momentum that we’re building.

Peel Watershed

At the beginning of the year we had some positive news when the Yukon Environmental and Socio-Economic Assessment Board (YESAB) rejected an exploration project in the Peel Watershed.

The first proposed development after the signing of the 2019 Peel Watershed Regional Land Use Plan required high standards for approval, and YESAB concluded that the Michelle Creek project didn’t meet those requirements. We felt great about the news, not only that the standard for projects would be higher, but that YESAB would hold companies accountable to those requirements.

Unfortunately, later in the year we saw the Yukon government take a drastic approach to this recommendation and file a judicial review in the Yukon courts arguing against YESAB’s decision.

We hope that this isn’t a pattern that develops between Yukon government and YESAB, but we’ll be keeping an eye on it and keeping you informed as it goes through the court process.

On a more positive note, we continued our work to help support on-the-land trips. In partnership with the First Nation of Na-cho Nyäk Dun (FNNND) and the Yukon First Nation Education Directorate (YFNED), Joti Overduin, our Outreach Manager, helped organize and lead youth through the meandering and scenic waters of the Wind River.

We’re so grateful to the Yukon Wildland Fire crews for helping everyone navigate through the trip and come home safely. Stay tuned in 2024 for lots of photos, videos, and stories from the Wind!

As the first float plane landed, friends and family waited on the shores of the Stewart River in Mayo to welcome the participants of the Wind River trip back.

Beaver River Watershed

As planning continues in other parts of the Yukon, we’re looking to the Beaver River Watershed in the Northern Tutchone region to continue with planning in the new year.

A few years ago, in early 2021, the Yukon government approved an exploration project in the Beaver River Watershed without appropriate consultations. The First Nation of Na-cho Nyäk Dun (FNNND) promptly sued the Yukon government, and won, with the court ruling that Yukon government did not adequately consult the First Nation and quashed the project approval.

It came as no surprise, however, that Yukon government is appealing this ruling. In November of this year, the court heard the Yukon government’s appeal in front of a packed courthouse.

It’s critical that Yukon government honours the rights and the values that FNNND, and many Yukoners want to see. We’re hopeful that the appeal won’t be upheld and we’ll be keeping an eye on it through the new year.

A small gathering at the CPAWS Yukon office to make posters and signs to protect the Beaver River Watershed.

Mining Reform

We have a once in a generation opportunity. New mining legislation will rewrite the outdated Placer and Quartz Mining Acts, bringing mining in the Yukon into the 21st century and reforming the entire cycle of a mine.

We want to see mining laws properly reflect the values that we hold today and ensure that the wild spaces that we hold so dear will be available for future generations to use as well. That’s why we spent much of the year promoting Yukon government’s New Mineral Legislation open houses. These open houses were an opportunity to express the valid concerns that we have around current mining legislation and provide feedback for the new ideas that the government planners had in mind.

We also wanted to ensure that you all had the opportunity to participate in a meaningful way. We released “Redefining Mining” a storymap help outline the some of the major issues with current mining legislation and we hope to see in the future.

Looking at what else transpired in 2023, from the Minto mine closure to Gladiator Metals, and even this story in CBC Yukon about how mining laws are being misused – it’s clear that reform is needed.

Chasàn Chùa/McIntyre Creek

A territorial park in the city of Whitehorse? That might be the future of Chasan Chua, a vibrant wildlife corridor that runs through the “Wilderness City.”

This year, Yukon government committed to working alongside Kwanlin Dün First Nation, Ta’an Kwäch’än Council, and the City of Whitehorse to establish a park. It comes after decades of campaigning to highlight the importance of the area, including the release of our report “Coexistence and Caution.”

After a year of taking account of as many wildlife species as we could throughout Chasan Chua, our 2023 report highlighted the major findings from the year as well as recommendations on how to ensure a healthy future for the creek and all of us who rely on it.

We also spent time scoping out Gladiator Metals’ claims which span from Cowley Creek, through Chasàn Chùa, and into Crestview. Mining exploration here would bring in lots of noise pollution, disturbance, and fundamentally change how the area gets used.

Your voice will continue to be needed through 2024. Stay tuned for updates and check out what we saw with our own eyes here.

Porcupine Caribou Herd

There were some exciting updates on the Porcupine Caribou Herd this year! In September, the Biden Administration canceled the seven remaining–and much contested–oil and gas leases within the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge, home to the calving grounds of the Porcupine caribou herd.

While this was a HUGE win for the Gwich’in who have been working so hard to protect the Arctic Refuge, it also means the work is far from over. Just because these leases have been repealed does not mean the Arctic Refuge is protected.

Along with this news came the release of the Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement (SEIS). This SEIS was meant to address the deeply flawed Environmental Impact Statement released by the previous U.S. administration.

Thousands of you from across Canada shared your thoughts, vision, and values to protect the Arctic Refuge and the calving grounds of the Porcupine Caribou Herd. The U.S. Bureau of Land Management will continue combing through the responses and release their Final Environmental Impact Statement. One which we hope will put the Gwich’in and caribou ahead of profits for oil and gas.

A gathering at the CPAWS Yukon office tuning into the virtual hearings for the Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement.

Land and Water Relationship Planning Gathering

In April, we co-hosted a land and water relationship planning gathering in Carcross. It was a day packed with important conversations from presenters across the north and participants from across the country.

People from a broad spectrum of organizations, governments and institutions came together on April 20th, 2023, to share and learn about land and water relationship planning. This was very intentionally phrased to differentiate from land use planning. The gathering was an opportunity for western science and Indigenous knowledge holders to come together and share their knowledge, learn from each other, and move forward in a better way.

Some of the ideas and projects that were brought up at the gathering, in my opinion, deserve a bigger spotlight. This is hopefully just one step of many towards a better way of planning, and a better way of thinking about our relationship to land and water.

To learn more about what went on during the Land and Water Relationship Planning Gathering, tune into the full livestream of the day here.

Top row (left to right): Checking out the Gladiator Metals’ claims, Beading for Reconciliation workshop, a day on the Mayo River with FNNND

Middle Row (left to right): Welcome home dinner from the Wind River, pine basket weaving workshop with Aiden, walk through McIntyre Creek with CPAWS trustees

Bottom Row (left to right): Joti beading at FNNND’s 30th anniversary of Final Agreement being signed, Chris speaking at the Land and Water Relationship Planning Gathering, learn to ski and ID animal tracks with Kwanlin Koyotes

Thank you all for a wonderful year! Your support helped us achieve some great things, and we’re looking forward to continuing this momentum in 2024.

December 6 2023

Seeing With Our Own Eyes: Gladiator Metals Copper Claims around the City of Whitehorse

CPAWS Yukon Blog mining

Seeing With Our Own Eyes

Gladiator Metals Copper Claims around the City of Whitehorse

Written by Stephanie Woods, Conservation Coordinator | December 6, 2023

“It breaks my heart to see this. I’ve been hiking and biking here for 30 years. I’ve seen bears, caribou, snowshoe hares, wolverine tracks—all sorts of animals and birds. Yes, there’s some disturbance here but it’s not meant to be permanent. But disturbance is how the steamroller starts. People come and say ‘let’s do more.’”
– Sandy Johnston

Sitting behind the wheel of his well-traveled red pickup truck, Sandy Johnston drove us along rough backroads, passing piles of copper-laced blue waste rock, leftovers from the long history of copper mining in this area. All around us, highly flammable coniferous trees like spruce and pine had been removed or mulched as a part of a firebreak the Yukon Government has been installing around the perimeter of Whitehorse. Sandy sighed: the firebreak, which has required much of the forest to be removed and the ecosystem dramatically altered, has been a hard compromise for the communities of Cowley Creek, Mary Lake, Wolf Creek, and Mt. Sima. Although it was a tough sacrifice to make, Sandy, a long-time resident of Mary Lake, explained it is a necessary sacrifice to protect the city from the increasing risk of wildfire, and he’s optimistic the area will eventually recover from the disturbance.

He isn’t, however, as optimistic about the area’s ability to recover from a new copper exploration project and potential mine proposed by Gladiator Metals. The claims are within the traditional territories of Kwanlin Dün First Nation and Ta’an Kwäch’än Council, and near Carcross Tagish First Nation Settlement Land. Leading up to this excursion with Sandy, CPAWS Yukon heard from citizens of south Whitehorse concerned about the threat this project poses to the watersheds, landscapes, and wildlife that migrate through this area—and their own backyards.

In November 2022, Gladiator Metals, a mineral exploration company, acquired the Whitehorse Copper Project, a series of 314 claims spread throughout 5,380 hectares within the Whitehorse Mining District. The company’s claims stretch along the south and western shoulder-side of Whitehorse, from Cowley Creek, through Chasàn Chùa (McIntyre Creek), all the way to Crestview, falling within the historic Whitehorse Copper Belt, which was first discovered in 1897 and actively mined mostly between 1967 and 1982.

: Copper minerals in stone. Photo by Stephanie Woods.

: Sandy and Randi navigating at a site. Photo by Stephanie Woods.

: Mining claim. Photo by Adil Darvesh.

: Zoomed Whitehorse Copper Belt map. Created by Yukon government.

The southernmost claims are located close to the Cowley Creek neighbourhood and encroach on the neighbouring forests and beloved trails.

A long-time Yukoner and member of our board here at CPAWS Yukon, Sandy has a powerful depth of knowledge and genuine concern for the places within and adjacent to Whitehorse that are threatened by continued mining exploration. From our perspective, and that of many others within his community, Sandy is an active steward of this area he has come to know intimately, and his family has grown deep roots within its soil. On this day, Sandy rounded up some of our team–Adil Darvesh, Randi Newton, and myself–on a crisp early autumn morning to show us exactly what’s at stake.

We rumbled down the rough road, yellowing aspens and poplars shimmering in the distance, towards the first site we wanted to visit–Black Cub South. Black Cub South (locally known as the “Big Quarry”) is a former mining pit and now a current exploration target three kilometres west of the Cowley Creek neighbourhood. It is one of thirty-one historical mining turned current exploration sites through the project, each of which is known by its historical Whitehorse Copper Belt name.

A pit first mined in 1971 that has since filled with water and reflected a vibrant blue met us at the site. The colouration is likely due to copper carbonates released from previous mining. Black Cub South had clear signs of being used as a recreational site with a year-round trail network. A male bufflehead treaded gracefully through the water. Fireweed, wild rose, buffalo berry, and small bog cranberry lined the edges of the pit and neighbouring forest, revealing the native forest understory. Next, we traveled to Keewanaw (known locally as the “Small Quarry”), another old site last operational in 1971 and now a target for Gladiator Metals, where we walked the trails of mining past, seeing an old mining pit left and filled in with water, large areas of land cleared, and skeletons of machinery left behind. We listened to the rushing of water traveling over cobbles and the soothing sound of Wolf Creek, adjacent to the pit along the side of a rock road used for incoming and outgoing traffic.

: Drone view of Cowley Creek and its surrounding wetlands. Photo by Adil Darvesh.

: Old mining pit at Keewanaw. Photo by Stephanie Woods.

: Keewanaw. Photo by Stephanie Woods.

From there, we headed north to our final site of the day, Arctic Chief. The most disturbed site we had seen yet—Arctic Chief hosted a large open pit peppered with scrap metals, an old car, and garbage. Vegetation was sparse here as we overlooked the city limits. We had become quieter as the afternoon went on and we absorbed the emotional impact of what mining so close to town would mean, in a stressed ecosystem that hasn’t yet had enough time to recover.

: Deep thinking overlooking the pit. Photo by Stephanie Woods.

: The Arctic Chief, a landscape shaped by waste rock. Photo by Randi Newton.

: Sandy, Randy and Stephanie at the Arctic Chief site. Photo by Adil Darvesh.

There’s a delicate balance to be had between ecosystem recovery and community access to these environments, providing places not only to walk, relax, and play, but also to harvest traditional medicinal plants and foods, like yarrow, cranberries, and rosehips. This balance would quickly be lost with continued mineral exploration or resumed mining activities.

Mining exploration would bring in large and loud machinery, the noise of which has been well-documented to impact wildlife and the way they use disturbed areas. Exploration activities at Black Cub South will further fragment the remaining forests and vegetation not already impacted by the firebreak, and can have long-lasting impacts to water quality on the surface and in the groundwater system. Speaking for myself, it’s hard to envision further mining exploration in an area that is clearly trying to recover, an area that is important to so many: humans, animals, and plants alike.

There’s a tendency for people, companies, and governments to look at a place like Black Cub South and undervalue it because it isn’t ‘pristine’ anymore—it’s already been disturbed by industrial and human activities, so what’s the harm in a little more? This perspective not only undervalues the ecological and community value of recovering environments but is also a slippery slope, says Sandy.

“Steamrolling ahead once an ecosystem is already disturbed can act as a gateway for further environmental destruction”
– Sandy Johnston

Personally, after working for parks and protected spaces around human settlements at both the municipal and federal levels, I’ve seen this first hand: healthy ecosystems degraded from overuse and development leading to severe habitat fragmentation–and sadly, very sadly in some cases, the complete loss of an ecosystem. Stressed ecosystems on the borders of large urban centers do not need more ground disturbance, noisy machinery, human traffic, vegetation loss, or water contamination—they need protection, restoration, and stewardship to recover.

Further mining exploration and potential future activity around the city’s perimeter will further stress these locally treasured places. Gladiator Metals has already recommenced drilling activities at the Cowley Park target by late September. They have most recently been issued a Class I exploration permit for diamond drilling on some of their claims within city limits. As concerned citizens and local residents, your voices are important. Join the Citizens Concerned about the Copperbelt Facebook group, a space that brings the community together to share concerns and stories, ask questions, and learn more. We will continue to keep our ears to the ground, support community members, and advocate for the health of shared landscapes, wildlife, medicinal plants, and sacred water.

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October 25 2023

Where We Stand on the Arctic Refuge and What You Can Do

CPAWS Yukon Blog, BlogArcticRefuge Arctic Refuge, Porcupine caribou

Written by Laurence Fox, Campaigns Coordinator | October 25, 2023
A shortened version of this post appeared in the Wednesday, October 18th, 2023 edition of the Yukon News.

The cancellation of the remaining leases in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge this past September was, and is, wonderful news for the Porcupine Caribou, the Gwich’in which have worked tirelessly to protect them, and everyone who loves, cares for, and wants to preserve wild places.

What comes next, though, for the Arctic Refuge?

Honestly? That’s hard to say. It’s a complicated process, legally and politically speaking. Where we’re at with the Arctic Refuge is largely contained within an 800-plus page report written in a mix of industrial mining jargon, data sets, and legally-nebulous bureaucratese that the average person needs a pot of black coffee and a thermal lance to break into, which certainly doesn’t make understanding things any easier. Having spent the last three weeks up to my eyeballs in this report I can tell you, however, that the nuts and bolts of the situation is this:

If you care about the Porcupine Caribou, wildlife conservation, climate change, First Nation rights and sovereignty, Canadian-American relations, the fundamental principles of democracy, or any combination thereof you should be paying attention to this.

Photo by Peter Mather.

Here’s why:

Way back in 2017, the Trump Administration passed the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, which, as the name implies, was mostly about cutting taxes and creating jobs in the name of incentivizing economic growth. As you would quite reasonably expect, cutting taxes means less money for government spending, and the Tax Act was expected to cost around US$1.9 trillion, or about the same as the total GDP of Canada for the same year.

To help offset the upfront costs of this, the Trump Administration slapped a rider on the tail end of the Tax Act (page 182 of 185, specifically) authorizing the sale of oil and gas leases in the “1002 Area” of the Coastal Plains within the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge–around 1.5 million acres of sea-swept, mountain-rimmed Northern wilderness which also happens to contain the calving grounds of the Porcupine Caribou Herd, sacred to the Gwich’in.

(Not to spoil the ending for you, but the first round of lease sales generated a paltry US$16.5 million, or about one percent of what had been expected.)

To make these lease sales happen, however, the legislation which governs the Arctic Refuge, had to be altered. Prior to 2017, the Arctic Refuge had four express purposes: to conserve animals and plants in their natural diversity, to ensure a place for subsistence hunting and gathering activities, to protect water quality and quantity, and to fulfill international wildlife treaty obligations. When it passed the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, the Trump Administration added a fifth; to “provide for an oil and gas leasing program within the Coastal Plain.”

The Act also directs the Secretary of the Interior to “establish and administer a competitive oil and gas program for the leasing, development, production, and transportation of oil and gas in and from the Coastal Plains,” making it a legal obligation to ensure lease sales happen.

What that means is that the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act makes oil and gas leasing an express, legal purpose of the refuge, regardless of who the President or the Secretary of Interior is. To this end, it specifies not only how much of the area must be put up for oil and gas leasing– a minimum of 400,000 acres, or an area about the size of Tombstone Territorial Park–but also requires no less than two leasing sales be held, the second of which must be held no later than December 2024.

In other words, the U.S. government unilaterally decided to not only start an oil and gas leasing program in the middle of a wildlife refuge, a move in direct conflict with the original intentions of the Arctic Refuge, smack dab in the middle of the Porcupine Caribou Herd’s calving grounds, but made it illegal not to do so.

Under American law, when something like oil and gas leasing in the Arctic Refuge is proposed, it triggers the need for an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS). An EIS assesses the potential impacts of a project on both people and the environment and then makes recommendations about whether or not that project should proceed, and with what mitigations in place. Moreover, the government agency proposing the project is in charge of compiling the EIS and deciding if what it wants to do is okay after the EIS is complete. Although all projects have to work within Federal, state, and local environmental laws, it’s up to the agency–in this case, the Bureau of Land Management (BLM)– to determine their application within its EIS.

An EIS is supposed to look at all the potential environmental and human costs and benefits of a project, design ‘alternatives’–imaginary scenarios used to create baseline expectations about how a project might impact an area under differing development situations–consult scientists, experts and the community about those situations, and then make a decision based on those alternatives and the feedback around them. In this case, however, the administration wasn’t looking at whether or not the leases should be issued, but under what conditions they would be issued.

The Trump Administration had made it a foregone conclusion that those leases had to be offered up for sale, whether anyone wanted them to be sold (or wanted to buy them) or not.

If this sounds a bit like telling students to turn in their homework, grade their own assignments, and then decide if they’ve passed or failed the course, that’s only because it is– and that’s exactly what happened with the initial EIS issued in 2019 under the Trump Administration.

The 2019 EIS ultimately recommended all 1.5 million acres of the Coastal Plains be put up for leasing, with the fewest restrictions and the most aggressive development options possible. Most of the recently canceled leases–there were seven of them, all held by the State of Alaska, a handful and a half of the 11 sold in early 2021–were all issued under the original EIS. That EIS was, as you would expect, found to be so legally, methodically, and scientifically flawed that the Biden Administration ordered the whole thing binned like Tuesday’s tuna sandwich on a Friday afternoon.

One of the first things incoming-President Joe Biden did in 2021 was throw a hold on all development in the Arctic Refuge and order a Supplementary Environmental Impact Statement (SEIS) be undertaken. This SEIS restarted the consultation process–if not from square one then from square two or three–which technically makes it a mulligan more than a “supplement.”

This brings us to where we are now, being asked to comment a second time on an environmental assessment which is inherently flawed because it legally has to conclude that leasing in the Arctic Refuge will take place.

Okay… so now what?

The bad news is that there’s no way to stop the lease sale–no matter what happens, they are going to put a minimum of 400,000 acres up for potential development. The law says they have to. The only way to stop it would be to change the law, and the political will doesn’t exist for that in Washington.

The good news is while it’s not perfect, this EIS is still better than the original, and offers better alternatives with more restrictions on development. Of the three alternative development scenarios being practically considered by BLM, one (almost) fully protects the Porcupine Caribou Herd’s calving grounds from development.

Moreover lease sales are not the same thing as development in the Arctic Refuge. They don’t just get a piece of paper that says “sure, go ahead and drill here” and start building oil wells the next day–they may buy a lease and never develop it. Likewise, when the first leases were made available, it was with the fewest possible restrictions on development, and even then the industry found them about as appetizing as a wet bologna sandwich and made very few bids. Just because leases are made available doesn’t mean anyone is actually going to buy them. The ultimate hope is that decision makers will choose the most restrictive scenario that best protects the Porcupine Caribou Herd and all the other treasures of refuge, a scenario that is at odds with making developing the Arctic Refuge a good business choice.

This is all… frustrating at best, but the fight isn’t over. There’s still time for action. For one thing, you can actually go and comment on the SEIS. Tell the U.S. government you won’t accept any development in the Arctic Refuge. You can pop over to the CPAWS Yukon website and sign our campaign letter, or you can write your own.

Photo by Ken Madsen.

You can also support the Arctic Refuge and the Porcupine Caribou by talking about the Arctic Refuge; share a post, tell your friends, tweet about it.

A bunch of rich people want to roll into what’s ostensibly a wildlife refuge and start putting holes in the ground where the Porcupine Caribou raise their babies so they can slurp up oil and gas and walk away a little bit richer than they were before.

Does that seem right to you? Does that seem like something that’s good? Do you think it’s possible to have a wildlife refuge remain a refuge if you turn it into an oilfield?

I don’t think that’s even remotely possible, I don’t think that’s right and I don’t think that’s good.

If you don’t either, then say something. The Arctic Refuge needs you too.

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Travelling in the Yukon?

LEARN HOW TO BE A RESPECTFUL GUEST

Read Walk With Us – Respectful Travel Guidelines

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Treat the land, water, and animals with care and respect

Leave no trace

Give thanks to the land in your way

Share your journey and gratitude

Support First Nation on the land and stewardship initiatives

Stony Creek, More Valuable Than Gold

CPAWS Yukon supports citizens concerned about the impact a placer mining project could have on their drinking water

1Keep the status quo(worst option)

2Decide on a case-by-case basis (slightly better but not sufficient)

3Prohibit mining anywhere in Whitehorse (best option)

What’s next?

CPAWS Yukon Presentation to City Council

Peel Watershed

Beaver River Watershed

Mining Reform

Chasàn Chùa/McIntyre Creek

Porcupine Caribou Herd

Land and Water Relationship Planning Gathering

Seeing With Our Own Eyes

Gladiator Metals Copper Claims around the City of Whitehorse

“Steamrolling ahead once an ecosystem is already disturbed can act as a gateway for further environmental destruction”– Sandy Johnston

1
Keep the status quo
(worst option)

2
Decide on a case-by-case basis (slightly better but not sufficient)

3
Prohibit mining anywhere in Whitehorse (best option)

“Steamrolling ahead once an ecosystem is already disturbed can act as a gateway for further environmental destruction”
– Sandy Johnston