Eco-Journal, v.17.2 March/April 2007Eco-Journal, v.17.2 March/April 2007
Courtesy Poplar River First Nations
Submitted by Gaile Whelan Enns, Director, Manitoba Wildlands
Poplar River First Nation (PRFN) may be close to securing permanent protection for the 800,000 ha Poplar-Nanowin Rivers Park Reserve, which has had interim protection from development since 1999 under a Parks Act regulation. The First Nation nominated these boreal lands for protection in 1998, under Manitoba’s First Nation Protected Areas Memorandum of Understanding (MOU).
The Asatiwisipe Aki Lands Management Plan was completed in fall 2005 and presented to the Manitoba Government. Poplar River’s lands plan is the result of close to a decade of research, traditional use studies, mapping, archeology and other technical studies. The community also launched a website containing information about their lands plan, and their vision for the future protection and management of their traditional lands. The website posts news and correspondence to showcase their efforts to negotiate with the Government of Manitoba for permanent protection for their traditional lands. In March 2006, Poplar River sent a renewed, formal written request for permanent protection for these important boreal lands to Manitoba’s Conservation Minister and the Premier.
The lands within the Asatiwisipe Aki Protected Area are an intact Boreal ecosystem where natural processes such as fire, wind and insects as well as climate determine species’ cycles as well as the functioning of the ecosystem. Due to its large size and intactness, this protected boreal forest provides ecological services that benefit Poplar River First Nation members, Manitobans and the world. Clean water through water filtration, clean air through oxygen production and carbon storage through absorption of carbon dioxide from the atmosphere into the soil, trees, and water systems are some of the ecological services provided by these boreal lands and waters.
First lands protected for the World Heritage Site
There is added significance to the boreal lands within the Asatiwisipe Aki Protected Area because of Poplar River’s plans to keep them intact. They will also be the first lands protected for the World Heritage Site (WHS) planned for the region. The WHS was nominated by PRFN along with four neighbouring First Nations east of Lake Winnipeg as part of their 2002 Accord. Their undertaking commits them to support one another and work together in a shared vision of protecting and conserving the ancestral lands and resources of their respective First Nations. Poplar River is the first of the Accord First Nations in Manitoba to complete its lands management plan. Permanent protection of these Manitoba boreal lands is critical for implementation of their lands plan, as well as achieving UNESCO inscription for the proposed World Heritage Site. Both Canada and Manitoba support the nomination of this future boreal WHS.
Gaile Whelan Enns, director of Manitoba Wildlands, told EcoJournal, “Our government will have taken an important step for the east side boreal region, for the future of the boreal in Canada, and for the World Heritage Site when it answers Poplar River First Nation’s request. We are looking forward to congratulating all parties!”
Poplar River’s vision and plan for its traditional lands is supported in the US by the Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC), in partnership with Manitoba Wildlands. “The Poplar/Nanowin River Park Reserve is an irreplaceable part of the world’s unspoiled, intact boreal forest ecosystem,” said Susan Casey-Lefkowitz, Director NRDC Canada Program. “The international community cannot understand why Manitoba delays in keeping its commitment to permanently protect this region.”
The NRDC’s BioGems campaign includes Poplar River’s lands within its ‘Heart of the Boreal Forest’ BioGem. The current ‘Take Action’ opportunity for BioGems supporters is an appeal to the Manitoba Government to act on its commitment to permanently protect Poplar River First Nations traditional lands.
2007 is looking more promising for the fulfillment of PRFN’s vision of permanent protection for these boreal lands.