Whitefeather Forest Dedicated Protected Areas – Cheemuhnuhcheecheekuhtaykeehn – Management Planning

This notice was originally posted in the old Environmental Registry under number 010-8821.

Description of Policy

In June 2006, Pikangikum First Nation and the Ministry of Natural Resources approved “Keeping the Land: A Land Use Strategy for the Whitefeather Forest and Adjacent Areas” which is recognized as a community based land use plan under the Far North Act, 2010. Keeping the Land assigned 432,950 hectares of the Whitefeather Forest to an interim land use designation called 'Dedicated Protected Areas' (DPAs), Cheemuhnuhcheecheekuhtaykeehn, which include:

• Kahnahmaykoosayseekahk (formerly Valhalla-Trough)
• WeeskayjahkOhtahzhoganeeng (formerly Lake Country)
• PahngwahshahshkOhweemushkeeg (formerly Sampson Lake)
• SahkeesuhkuhWeesuhkaheegahn (formerly Pringle Lake)
• BeekahncheekahmeengDeebahncheekayweehnEenahohnahnuhn(formerly Cultural Landscape Waterways)

This planning process for the Whitefeather Forest Cheemuhnuhcheecheekuhtaykeehn DPAs will focus on implementing the direction provided and the commitments made in Keeping the Land. Ontario Parks is proud to continue to work in partnership with the Pikangikum First Nation through the Whitefeather Forest Management Corporation (WFMC).

The Whitefeather Forest DPAs have been withdrawn from mineral exploration and other Crown dispositions. In September 2009, the DPAs were proposed for regulation as provincial parks under the Provincial Parks and Conservation Reserves Act, 2006 (Registry Number 010-7226). Interim policy direction for these areas is provided by the land use strategy.

The Provincial Parks and Conservation Reserves Act, 2006 requires that management direction be prepared for the Whitefeather Forest DPAs to determine policy for their stewardship, development, management and operation. A management plan will be developed recognizing the significance of Whitefeather Forest DPAs as protected areas within the Ontario protected areas system, and ensuring that the relationship of the DPAs to the surrounding area is properly considered. The plan will be prepared with a 20-year perspective, with an examination after 20 years to determine the need for administrative updates, amendments or a replacement.

The Whitefeather Forest DPA project team is comprised of representatives from the WFMC of Pikangikum First Nation and Ontario Parks.

The authority and direction for DPA planning is based upon the legislation and policies which govern Ontario Parks and the Ministry of Natural Resources, and also upon the guidance of Pikangikum Elders and indigenous knowledge experts whose customary stewardship of these lands over the generations, and continuing into the future, have created the Whitefeather Forest cultural landscape.

Purpose of Policy

To prepare a management plan for the Whitefeather Forest Cheemuhnuhcheecheekuhtaykeehn Dedicated Protected Areas that balances the protection of outstanding natural and cultural values while providing for a range of customary activities and new economic opportunities.

Other Information

The management planning process will address:

• classification
• zoning
• vision and objectives
• ecological integrity
• natural resource stewardship
• operations and development
• cultural resources
• recreation resources and management
• teaching and transfer of indigenous knowledge traditions of Pikangikum people

This management proposals document has been prepared and was approved by Ontario Parks and the Whitefeather Forest Management Corporation of Pikangikum First Nation.

The management proposal document defines the vision, objectives and economic opportunities for the Cheemuhnuhcheecheekuhtaykeehn. The management proposals also present the long-term direction for the protection, development, management and use of natural, cultural and recreational resources and values, as well as addresses permitted activities, and resource management, development and operations priorities.

This document has been completed with guidance from the Whitefeather Forest Steering Group, support from the community of Pikangikum and follows the guidance and direction in the Keeping the Land Strategy. This management proposals document will serve as a foundation for the development of the preliminary management plan for the Whitefeather Cheemuhnuhcheecheekuhtaykeehn.

The following weblinks provide supporting information:

2011:

Background Information (PDF):http://www.ontarioparks.com/english/planning_pdf/white/background_info.pdf

Background Information Maps (PDF, 41MB):http://www.ontarioparks.com/english/planning_pdf/white/background_info_maps.pdf

2010:

Terms of Reference (PDF):http://www.ontarioparks.com/english/planning_pdf/white/white_ToR.pdf

Ontario Parks Website www.ontarioparks.com

Information about the Whitefeather Forest www.whitefeatherforest.com

Information about Ontario Parks management planning can be found in the Protected Areas Planning Manual www.ontarioparks.com/english/planning_manual.html

In April 2011, the majority of the Whitefeather Dedicated Protected Areas were regulated under the Provincial Parks and Conservation Reserves Act, 2006 (Registry Number 010-7226). Interim policy direction for these areas is provided by the Keeping the Landland use strategy and Ontario Provincial Parks: Planning and Management Policies (1992).

Public Consultation

This proposal was posted for a 61 day public review and comment period starting January 19, 2010. Comments were to be received by March 21, 2010.

All comments received during the comment period are being considered as part of the decision-making process by the ministry.

Please note: all comments and submissions received have become part of the public record.

Other Public Consultation Opportunities

First Nations communities, resource users, local and provincial interest groups, government agencies, landowners, and the general public have received an invitation to review and comment on the management proposals document through direct written notice. Persons not included in this initial mailing who wish to be involved in the process may have their names added to the mailing list by contacting the project planner at the Red Lake office at the address provided under “contact”. Public notice of this planning process has also been placed in local newspaper in Red Lake as well as the regional Aboriginal newspaper, Wawatay News. Key documents and media will be made available in the Ojibway language (Anishinaabemowin). Additionally, the use of various media will be explored to ensure that Aboriginal people are well informed of the planning project (e.g. community radio).

There are five stages of planning (dates beyond Stage 3 are tentative):

Stage 1: Invitation to participate - January 19 - March 5, 2010

Stage 2: Review of background information document – March 23, 2011 – May 9, 2011

Stage 3: Review of management proposals – August 2, 2013 – October 2, 2013

Stage 4: Review of preliminary management plan – Fall 2013

Stage 5: A notice of approved management plan –Mid-winter 2014

Participants will have an opportunity to review documents and provide comments at various stages. Open houses and/or static information displays are planned. Notice will be mailed to all names on the mailing list prior to the open house/information centre. This notice will be updated at each stage.