This article brings to light more about the needed protection for the Peel Watershed.
Flowing into the Beaufort Sea in the Arctic Ocean, The Peel Watershed is comprised of multiple tributies and is almost 68,000 square kilometres in Yukon alone. Moreover, the Peel Watershed is located within the traditional territories of multiple First Nations. These include the overlapping territories of the Na Cho Nyak Dun, Vuntut Gwitchin,Tr'ondek Hwech'in First Nations and Teetl'it Gwichi'in Council. The watershed's future is under threat regarding the land-use planning of the area between the Supreme Court of Canada and the Yukon Government.
In conjunction with the Yukon Conservations Society, The Peel Watershed Exhibit is stopping at the Yukon Arts Centre throughout August to showcase photos of the sacred area and to create more awareness regarding its needed protection.
Also having being showcased in Ottawa and First Nations communities around the watershed, the exhibit aims to protect the watershed from resource exploration and extraction. For Teetl'it Gwichi'in Council and these other surrounding First Nations communities, this sacred area has been home to intergenerational ritual and healing practices for millennia.
Jody Overduin, the community liaison for CPAWS (Canadian Parks and Wilderness Society), described the next steps regarding the protection of the Peel Watershed She stated, "We had a huge victory December 1st, 2017, but that doesn't mean the appeal is protected... there is a final consultation yet to be held for the appeal".
She added that "they (the Supreme Court) ordered the Yukon Government to redo the public consultation"
There will be free entry from Monday thru Friday from 10am-5pm for the Peel Watershed Exhibit at the Yukon Arts Centre for the entirety of August. On Saturdays, the exhibit will be open from from 12pm-5pm.
Citations
“Peel Watershed Full Exhibit Comes to Whitehorse.” Canadian Parks and Wilderness Society, cpawsyukon.org/peel-photo-exhibit-whitehorse/.