News

December 6 2024

CPAWS Yukon congratulates Ross River Dena Council, Yukon government, and Government of Canada on historic Memorandum of Understanding

Whitehorse – CPAWS Yukon is thrilled to congratulate Ross River Dena Council (RRDC), the Government of Canada, and the Yukon government on the signing of a historic Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to begin a national park feasibility study in Ross River territory (Tū Łī́dlini). This is a significant milestone along the path to establishing the Yukon’s first Indigenous Protected and Conserved Area (IPCA).

An IPCA would provide a legal framework for conservation through the lens of Indigenous self-governance, cultural and ecological stewardship, while also mitigating the impacts of climate change in the North. This feasibility study is a promising step towards achieving that goal, while also helping the Yukon achieve conservation targets in the Canada-Yukon Nature Agreement, as well as federal conservation targets to protect 30% of Canada’s land and water by 2030.

As RRDC continues to see immense pressure for development, notably the Kudz Ze Kayah project, an IPCA would allow the First Nation to work collaboratively with partners to ensure that their vision for the future of the land and water is respected and heard. The impacts of mining weigh heavily on the community and environment, and there is a clear need for safeguarding the health of these landscapes

“Years of dedication and tireless efforts by the Ross River Dena Council are reflected in this news, as they steward their traditional lands and waters to uphold Kaska culture and honour their Elders. CPAWS will continue to work alongside RRDC—both on the water and behind the scenes—to help create the Yukon’s first Indigenous Protected and Conserved Area.”- Chris Pinkerton, Executive Director CPAWS Yukon.

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Contact

Adil Darvesh, Communications Manager, CPAWS Yukon

adarvesh@cpawsyukon.org | 867-393-8080 x9

November 22 2024

Rally to Protect the Peel plan on Nov 27

CPAWS Yukon News

November 22, 2024

Rally to Protect the Peel plan on Nov 27

Whitehorse – After decades of work, and a significant victory at the Supreme Court of Canada, Yukoners need to once again come together to Protect the Peel.

On Wednesday November 27th, the Yukon Supreme Court will be hearing the case by the Yukon government against the Yukon Environmental and Socio-Economic Assessment Board (YESAB) and their recommendation that the Michelle Creek project does not go forward, a recommendation based on upholding the Peel Watershed Regional Land Use Plan.

This decision to take YESAB to court is one that cannot fly under the radar. People will be rallying outside the courthouse in Whitehorse from 12:00pm – 1:00pm calling for the Yukon government to respect regional land planning and stop trying to subvert it through the court system.

Going to court over this recommendation is an egregious breach of the Yukon government’s stated intentions to work collaboratively alongside Yukon First Nations and the written policies within the Peel Watershed Regional Land Use Plan.

“So many people fought for the Peel Watershed and to honour the Final Agreements. The high standards for development projects were celebrated in 2019 by the Yukon government as they signed the land use plan in Mayo, but now, when expected to uphold these standards, the Yukon government has chosen to take YESAB to court instead. We are calling on the Yukon government to truly co-manage the Peel Watershed with the First Nation signatories to the plan as they said they would and stop wasting taxpayer money and everyone’s valuable time. If a project doesn’t meet the standards, it shouldn’t proceed.” – Joti Overduin, Outreach Manager

Other concurrent rallies are pending for Mayo, Dawson City, and Fort McPherson. Details to come.

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Contact
Adil Darvesh
Communications Manager, CPAWS Yukon
adarvesh@cpawsyukon.org | 867-393-8080 x9

October 25 2024

First Nation of Na-Cho Nyäk Dun, CPAWS Yukon, and YFNED presenting Voices from the Wind River at the Yukon Arts Centre on November 14

CPAWS Yukon News

October 25, 2024

Whitehorse – The First Nation of Na-Cho Nyäk Dun, Yukon Chapter of the Canadian Parks and Wilderness Society (CPAWS Yukon) and the Yukon First Nation Education Directorate (YFNED) are thrilled to present “Voices from the Wind River” on Thursday November 14th at the Yukon Arts Centre. This is an evening of live music, storytelling, and the exclusive Whitehorse premiere of “Connections” a film from our on-the-land youth trip down the Wind River in 2023.

This film, shot and edited by Bethany Paquette, follows youth as they travel through the iconic Peel Watershed and explore the place that so many people fought to protect.

The evening will continue the theme of connection with remarks from Chief Dawna Hope from the First Nation of Na-Cho Nyäk Dun, a panel discussion, and musical guests Remmi Elin, and Keitha Clarke with Graham Poile.

Many community members and businesses have also donated items for us to hold a fundraising auction, with proceeds going towards CPAWS Yukon’s work for future on-the-land trips and connecting people to land, water, and heritage.

The online auction will run from November 1st until November 30th. Items can be viewed now at https://www.32auctions.com/CPAWSYukon and will also be available for viewing in person on November 14th.

Tickets and information about the event can be found at: https://purchasing.yukonartscentre.com/EventAvailability?EventId=9001 or at https://cpawsyukon.org/windriver.

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Contact

Adil Darvesh, Communications Manager
CPAWS Yukon
867-393-8080 x9 | adarvesh@cpawsyukon.org

June 27 2024

CPAWS Yukon deeply concerned about Victoria Gold’s heap leach failure

CPAWS Yukon News

June 27, 2024

CPAWS YUKON DEEPLY CONCERNED ABOUT VICTORIA GOLD’S HEAP LEACH FAILURE

CPAWS Yukon is deeply alarmed by the recent failure of the heap leach facility at the Eagle Mine, a gold mining project owned and operated by Victoria Gold, located near Mayo on the traditional territory of the First Nation of Na-cho Nyäk Dun.

The failure, which Victoria Gold has described as “significant,” was reported the morning of Monday, June 24, and has resulted in damage to the infrastructure of the facility, triggering a landslide in which “a portion of the failure” escaped “containment” at the facility.

CPAWS Yukon stands in solidarity with the First Nation of Na-Cho Nyäk Dun, who have shared their concerns over this “deeply serious incident,” and the “potentially significant and far-reaching environmental impacts” it could have on the waters, fish, and wildlife of their traditional territory in a recent press release.

We are heartened to hear that no one on site was injured, although the magnitude of the failure and potential it had to harm people is alarming. While at this time the extent of environmental damage and cyanide release from the heap leach failure is unknown, CPAWS Yukon is concerned about the potential near and long-term impacts the failure will have on the area’s land and water ecosystems.

That the slide appears to have run overtop and potentially damaged the pipe and pump system that collects gold-bearing cyanide solution at the toe of the heap leach pad and moves it to the processing plant is of particular concern. According to the mine’s April 2023 Technical Report, this system is sized to allow 2 million litres of gold-bearing cyanide solution to flow through it every hour. If this system is damaged, it begs the question of how much cyanide solution is being released into the environment, where it is going, and how much could be leaching into groundwater.

This is also not the first failure of the mine’s heap leach facility this year. According to a January 17, 2024 mine inspection report, “a slope failure occurred at the southeast area of the Heap Leach Facility (HLF),” sloughing off 14,000 tonnes of crushed ore. The slide was later found to have damaged the heap leach liner. CPAWS Yukon wonders if this should have been a warning sign about the flaws of the heap leach facility.

This incident is, at best, a highly troubling development which requires careful consideration around the appropriateness of heap leap facilities in the Yukon, including the facility which is included as part of the proposed Casino Mine project. At worst, this event could be a significant environmental problem with serious and long lasting consequences to both humans and wildlife, as well the economic future of hundreds of Eagle Mine employees, contractors and suppliers.

“Time and again industry and often the territorial government have minimized concerns about the risks that come with mining. We are told that engineering and planning will manage risk and there is nothing to worry about. This is obviously not true and we need to have honest conversations about the inability of companies and regulatory systems to prevent every catastrophic failure.”

Randi Newton, CPAWS Yukon Conservation Manager

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Contact

Adil Darvesh, CPAWS Yukon Communications Manager

adarvesh@cpawsyukon.org | 867-393-8080 x9

February 14 2024

BANK OF AMERICA RESCINDS PROMISE NOT TO FUND ARCTIC OIL AND GAS PROJECTS

CPAWS Yukon BlogArcticRefuge, News

February 14, 2024

CPAWS Yukon is deeply disappointed to learn Bank of America has copped-out on its pledge not to fund oil and gas projects in the Arctic, including those which could take place within the sacred calving ground of the Porcupine Caribou Herd in Alaska’s Arctic Wildlife Refuge.

In 2021, Bank of America promised to boycott the funding of certain types of environmentally damaging and carbon-emissions heavy projects, including new or expanded coal mining operations, coal-thermal power plants, and “petroleum exploration or production activities in the Arctic.” In December 2023, however, the company quietly repealed that decision, sneaking the change into its updated Environmental and Social Risk Policy Framework, moving instead to place such investments under “enhanced due diligence.” The take-back was first reported publicly in the New York Times on February 3, 2024, several months after the changes had been made.

Placing these types of projects under “enhanced due diligence” means Arctic oil and gas and projects would be subject to a high-level of risk assessment and “escalated to the Senior Level” for risk assessment. While CPAWS Yukon understands Bank of America’s decision comes in the wake of increasing pressure from some U.S. politicians attempts to restrict or even criminalize the application of Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG)—policies which, when applied within financial and business institutions, focus on social and environmental sustainability and responsibility—this change effectively moves potential funding for Arctic oil and gas projects, including those within the Arctic Refuge, from “off the table” to “on the table, under the right circumstances.” CPAWS Yukon finds this wholly unacceptable.

“The underhanded manner in which Bank of America has reneged on its commitment to boycott the funding of Arctic oil and gas projects casts a poor light on the institution’s willingness to take climate change, the health of the environment, and rights and sovereignty of Indigenous peoples on both sides of the border seriously. Frankly, Bank of America’s actions are shameful.”
-Laurence Fox, Campaigns Coordinator, CPAWS Yukon

Bank of America is the second largest financial institution in the U.S., with assets totalling US$2.4 trillion. It has been the fourth largest funder of fossil fuel development since the implementation of the 2016 Paris Accord and was the last of the six major U.S. banks to commit to not financing oil and gas projects in the Arctic. The remaining five major institutions all currently have policies committed to not financing drilling in the Arctic. Similarly, thanks to joint pressure from CPAWS, the Vuntut Gwitchin, Gwich’in Tribal Council, and our partners within the international Arctic Defence Campaign, all five of Canada’s major financial institutions have committed to denying funding for oil and gas projects within the Arctic Refuge in order to protect the Sacred Calving Grounds of the Porcupine Caribou Herd and the rights of the Gwich’in Nation. Bank of America’s decision to backpedal on its agreement is not only a broken promise to Arctic Indigenous communities, Americans, and Canadians, but a deviation from the international norms agreed upon by its contemporaries and competitors.

CPAWS Yukon stands in solidarity with the Vuntut Gwitchin, the Gwich’in Nation, independent Inupiat, Yukoners, Americans, and Canadians who have explicitly and emphatically opposed all oil and gas development within the Arctic Wildlife Refuge. The only acceptable development within the Arctic Refuge is no development, and the retraction of its no-funding policy for Arctic oil and gas projects by Bank of America is both a direct threat to this long-stated, Indigenous-lead position and the Refuge itself. Its decision is, furthermore, in direct contradiction of its own stated understanding within its framework that “the Arctic is a unique region with specific considerations to take into account, including those of marine and wildlife, a fragile ecosystem, and the rights of Indigenous peoples.” CPAWS Yukon cannot see how Bank of America can hold this statement to be true, while simultaneously going back on its promise to ban funding for oil and gas projects in the Arctic.

CPAWS Yukon urges Bank of America to reconsider its position and sincerely hopes the institution will make good on its previous commitments, now and in the future.

For more information on CPAWS Yukon and our campaign to protect the Porcupine Caribou and the Arctic Refuge, please visit our website.

CONTACT: lfox@CPAWSYukon.org

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September 26 2023

New report details how wildlife use Chasàn Chùa (McIntyre Creek)

CPAWS Yukon News

September 26, 2023

Whitehorse, Yukon – Chasàn Chùa, also known as McIntyre Creek, is a wildlife corridor in the midst of Whitehorse that connects wild spaces to the east and west of the City. There is pressure for more housing and road development in and around the creek, yet limited scientific data to inform decisions about the future of Chasàn Chùa.

This prompted CPAWS Yukon to research the impacts of housing and roads on wildlife within the area. In 2021, we surveyed wildlife distribution and habitat use at Chasàn Chùa. We recorded dozens of different bird and mammal species across the area, including Olive-sided Flycatchers, Wilson’s Snipes, Canada lynx, and moose. Our remote cameras, acoustic recorders, and winter track surveys gave us a snapshot of a bustling ecological community with an intricate web of interactions and relationships.

We found that wildlife thrived throughout the area, but housing and road developments impacted each species differently. For example, moose avoided the most developed parts of the creek. When moose did visit heavily populated areas it was primarily at night. We only observed species at risk like grizzly bears, Lesser Yellowlegs and Rusty Blackbirds in the most remote areas of Chasàn Chùa, while red foxes and mule deer preferred areas with higher levels of human development. Each species that inhabits Chasàn Chùa experiences human disturbances in a different way. These findings and more are detailed in Coexistence and Caution: tradeoffs faced by wildlife in Chasàn Chùa (McIntyre Creek), Yukon, and our data can be found at cpawsyukon.org/chasan-chua-data/.

This report compiles the data collected over the summer of 2021 and interpreted with the help of biologists and ecologists. It provides the framework for key recommendations that we hope supports planners and policy makers to make informed decisions about the area. Rather than taking a singular approach to stewarding the creek and its wildlife, planners should account for the complex responses that different species have to human developments.

While the City of Whitehorse has committed to establishing Chasàn Chùa/McIntyre Creek park in partnership with Kwanlin Dün First Nation, Ta’an Kwӓch’ӓn Council, Yukon University, and the Government of Yukon, there are still threats that could affect the area before formal protections are in place. Proposed mineral exploration work by Gladiator Metals Corp is the most immediate threat, but future road and housing developments could also impact the area and the wildlife that call it home.

Our five key recommendations are:

Avoid further development in Chasàn Chùa until park planning is finished.
Maintain habitat connectivity between Chasàn Chùa and surrounding wild spaces.
Accommodate the needs of wildlife in future transportation plans, and include safety precautions for wildlife and people.
Maintain the integrity of wetlands along the creek, and preserve the terrestrial and hydrological connections among them.
Safeguard the future of Chasàn Chùa through careful management planning.

“When we started going through the data, I was impressed by the number of species we were detecting, and amazed at the number of newborn animals we were seeing…it quickly became obvious to me that Chasan Chua is still an important home for all sorts of wildlife” says CPAWS Yukon Conservation Coordinator, Maegan Elliott.

Coexistence and Caution: https://cpawsyukon.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/Coexistence-and-caution_Final_webversion.pdf

Storymap highlighting our observations: https://cpawsyukon.org/coexistence-and-caution/

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Contact

Adil Darvesh, CPAWS Yukon Communications Coordinator

adarvesh@cpawsyukon.org | 867-393-8080 x9

September 6 2023

CPAWS Yukon pleased to see canceled leases in the Arctic Refuge

CPAWS Yukon News

September 6, 2023

Whitehorse, Yukon – CPAWS Yukon joins the Gwich’in Steering Committee and other environmental allies in welcoming today’s announcement of the cancellation of remaining oil and gas leases in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge.

Today, the U.S. administration announced, along with a supplemental environmental impact statement (SEIS), that the last remaining leases held along the coastal plains in the Arctic Refuge would be canceled. These leases, held by the Alaska Industrial Development and Export Authority (AIDEA) were attained during the unlawful and rushed sale in January 2021.

The coastal plains of the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge are the calving grounds for the Porcupine caribou herd, who migrate through Alaska, Yukon, and the Northwest Territories. Today’s announcement is a crucial step towards protecting their wellbeing, and the Gwich’in way of life.

“We are happy to see that the remaining leases held by AIDEA were canceled today. This confirms what we’ve known since the beginning: the 2021 lease sale was unlawful and rushed. Canceling these leases shows care for the climate, caribou, and the communities who rely on them. This is a big win for the Arctic Refuge, the Porcupine caribou herd, the Gwich’in, and all Canadians.” – Randi Newton, Conservation Manager for CPAWS Yukon

For decades the Gwich’in have been advocates for protecting the Porcupine caribou and their calving grounds in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge. We want to express our gratitude to the Gwich’in Steering Committee and Vuntut Gwitchin First Nation for their leadership and congratulate them on achieving this step towards permanent protection of these sacred lands.

Over the next few weeks, we will be taking a deep dive into the Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement and encourage Yukoners to submit their comments. This SEIS comes as part of an order from Secretary of the Interior Deb Haaland and an executive order from President Joe Biden to address the shortcomings of the previous administration’s environmental review.

Gwich’in Steering Committee statement: https://ourarcticrefuge.org/gwichin-steering-committee-statement-on-aidea-lease-cancellation/

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Contact

Adil Darvesh, CPAWS Yukon Communications Coordinator

adarvesh@cpawsyukon.org | 867-393-8080 x 9

December 15 2022

CPAWS Yukon welcomes landmark Canada-Yukon Nature Agreement, but more work is needed to protect nature

CPAWS Yukon News

Whitehorse, Yukon – The Yukon Chapter of the Canadian Parks and Wilderness Society (CPAWS Yukon) is encouraged by today’s joint announcement by the Government of Canada and Government of Yukon in the Canada-Yukon Nature Agreement. We called on the Government of Yukon to step up on protecting and conserving wild spaces and species, and their commitment to protecting 25% by 2025 is a step towards achieving that.

In 2021, Canada’s federal government confirmed its commitment to protecting 30% of its land and ocean by 2030 — necessary action towards addressing biodiversity loss and climate change. Although the Canada-Yukon Agreement is a critical first step, CPAWS Yukon is hopeful that the Government of Yukon will follow the agreement by implementing clear policies that support 30% protection by 2030 and supporting Indigenous-led conservation.

The news follows the release of CPAWS Yukon polling that says the majority of Yukoners support the government setting a big and important nature conservation goal, like protecting and conserving 30% of land and water in the Yukon by 2030. Nearly three quarters of Yukoners (73%) think the Government of Yukon should commit to protecting at least 30% of the territory.

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Canada-Yukon Nature Agreement Press Release

Canada-Yukon Nature Agreement

Contact

Adil Darvesh, CPAWS Yukon Communications Manager

867-393-8080 x 9 | adarvesh@cpawsyukon.org

December 13 2022

New poll confirms Yukoners support nature conservation in Canada, the Yukon, and the Dawson Region

CPAWS Yukon News

While it’s no surprise that Yukoners deeply value the territory’s lands, waters and wildlife, a new poll confirms that Yukoners support nature protection. The poll, conducted by Nanos Research and commissioned by CPAWS Yukon, shows that a strong majority of Yukoners (80%) support the federal government’s commitment to protect 30% of land in Canada. Nearly three quarters of Yukoners (73%) think the Government of Yukon should commit to protecting at least 30% of the territory.

Currently 19.1% of the Yukon and 13.5% of Canada is protected. “Protected areas are an effective way to prevent habitat loss and fragmentation, two of the major causes of wildlife declines in Canada and around the world,” explained Randi Newton, Conservation Manager of CPAWS Yukon. “Indigenous-led conservation and land use planning offer clear pathways for protecting the lands and waters that make the Yukon so special.”

The poll is a strong indication that Yukoners are expecting more action from their governments to protect nature. The results are timely, as people from across the world are gathering at COP15, the United Nations’ biodiversity conference in Montreal, to set conservation goals to halt and reverse the loss of biodiversity.

The territorial government has not committed to conservation targets, despite the federal government pledging to protect 30% of land in Canada. However, the majority of Yukoners (66%) say they would be more likely to support a territorial government if it set a big and important nature conservation goal, like protecting and conserving 30% of land and water in the Yukon by 2030. Nearly two thirds (63%) say they would be more likely to support a Yukon political party if it proposed to increase territorial funding to create new protected areas. Only 16% were less likely to support a territorial party that made a commitment to do so (19% said it would have no impact).

“Commiting to nature conservation would help ensure the Yukon doesn’t sleepwalk into the same habitat and wildlife declines facing the rest of the country,” said Randi Newton. “Clear policy direction from governments would help support existing initiatives and Indigenous-led conservation efforts. Protecting at least 30% of the territory by 2030 is a very achievable goal if we simply follow the lead of land use planning and conservation initiatives from First Nations and the Inuvialuit.”

Yukoners also support conservation in the Dawson Region, where land use planning is ongoing. The Recommended Dawson Region Land Use Plan identifies nearly 40% of the region for protection, including the existing Tombstone Territorial Park. Nearly half (47%) of poll respondents favoured at least 40% protection, compared to 28% who favoured less than 20% protection.

“For many, Dawson is synonymous with mining and the Klondike Gold Rush, but this poll demonstrates that Yukoners also value Dawson for its superb wildlife habitat, beautiful rivers and mountains, and the cultural connections that run deeply with the land,” said Randi Newton.

Nanos Research conducted the poll through phone interviews with 410 Yukoners between November 4th and 14th, 2022. The results of the poll are accurate plus or minus 4.8%, 19 times out of 20.

Find a copy of the report here.

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Contact

Adil Darvesh, CPAWS Yukon Communications Manager
867-393-8080 | adarvesh@cpawsyukon.org

November 18 2022

Developing wetlands would be a major source of carbon emissions, CPAWS Yukon report shows.

CPAWS Yukon News

November 15, 2022

Industrial developments in the Yukon’s wetlands could lead to substantial releases of carbon, at a time when the Government of Yukon has pledged steep cuts in greenhouse gas emissions. Future placer mining developments in the Indian River Watershed alone could release 575 kilotonnes of CO2—as much carbon as the yearly emissions from 125,000 cars, or running Whitehorse’s liquified natural gas plant around the clock, every day, for a decade. These are key findings from The Yukon’s climate blind spot, a report released today by the CPAWS Yukon. The report shows that wetland conservation needs to be a key piece of the Yukon’s response to the climate change emergency.

CPAWS Yukon’s report focused on the impacts of developments in fens, bogs and swamps: wetlands that contain carbon-rich peat. Peat slowly accumulates carbon over millennia, but disturbing peatlands can transform them from carbon stores to carbon emitters. CPAWS Yukon worked with wetland maps and scientific literature to estimate the amount of carbon stored in peatlands in the Indian River Watershed, south of Dawson City. The report then projected how much carbon could be released, based on the amount of placer mining that the Dawson Land Use Plan could allow in the future.

The report comes as Egypt hosts the COP 27 climate change summit, and a year after countries around the world pledged to limit global warming to 1.5°C. The Yukon has pledged to cut its emissions 45% by 2030, but emissions from peatland development aren’t part of this target, and are not counted at all. “Preventing the worst impacts of climate change depends on keeping carbon in the ground, but the Government of Yukon keeps approving new mining developments in wetlands. That only adds more fuel to the fire,” said Malkolm Boothroyd, CPAWS Yukon’s Campaigns Coordinator and the report’s lead author.

CPAWS Yukon’s report focused on the impacts to peatlands from one industry in a small part of the Yukon, but these risks are not confined to the Indian River. Developments like open-pit mining and road construction can impact the health of peatlands too.“Wetlands are more than reservoirs of carbon,” Boothroyd said. “Wetland ecosystems are rich in wildlife, and are places where many people go to hunt, fish and feel connected with the natural world. The Yukon should rise to the urgency of the moment, and take leadership to conserve these peatland ecosystems.”

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The Yukon’s Climate Blind Spot:

https://cpawsyukon.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/The-Yukons-climate-blind-spot.pdf

Images of wetlands and placer mining available for media use at: https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1Eq3TxFSlzU7tvCWVhBsDxJisd_KnyrXL?usp=sharing

Media contact:

Adil Darvesh, Communications Manager

adarvesh@cpawsyukon.org

867-393-8080 x 9