5.2.1 Land-People Relationship
If the land is good, your spirit is good, and that’s why it’s important to be connected to the land.
The well-being of individuals and communities depends on strong and enduring relationships with the land, each other, and all beings that share this place. For Tr’ondëk Hwëch’in, these relationships have been shaped over millennia and continue to evolve in response to changing conditions, guided by respect for the past and responsibility to future generations.
Relationships with land, fish, and wildlife are important for people of all backgrounds in the Region, though to varying degrees, and are expressed in many ways. Maintaining these relationships requires healthy ecosystems, the availability of fish, wildlife, and plants for harvest, and the ability to access the land at the right times. Continued sharing and learning between generations and across communities is essential to long-term healthy land–people relationships.
For Tr’ondëk Hwëch’in, these relationships are expressed through Tr’ëhudè, which encompasses a set of values and a way of life that they have found are necessary to maintain these relationships and allow them to “live well”. This holistic worldview recognizes that everything in the universe has importance and that humans are only one small part. The land and animals are our best teachers, and in turn, we use our knowledge to care for the land, our community, and ourselves.
Over millennia, people have learned to live well in this landscape by responding to its challenges with what the land has to offer. Today, industrial development and climate change present new pressures, but through sustainable practices, communities can maintain ties to the land and uphold their legacy as stewards while adapting to change.
Many people in the Region express their relationship with the land through recreation. The Region offers opportunities for boating, paddling, camping, hiking, skiing, and motorized travel. These activities provide physical, mental, social, and spiritual benefits and contribute to tourism. For many residents, including Tr’ondëk Hwëch’in Citizens, recreation is inseparable from harvesting and stewardship. Trails and travel routes hold cultural and heritage value, supporting traditional activities such as fishing and connecting people to the land and water.
However, there is concern that some recreational users do not fully appreciate the importance of caring for the land and the damage they may cause: maintaining wilderness character and minimizing land-use conflicts are essential to preserving these values.
Ultimately, this Plan encourages all people to act as stewards of the Region to ensure that land, water, and wildlife remain healthy for future generations. By recognizing the interconnectedness of land health and human health, the Plan promotes decisions that sustain ecological integrity while supporting vibrant communities and cultural well-being.
Key Planning Issues
- Conflicts may arise between harvesting and subsistence activities and other land uses, including in the following LMUs:
- LMU 11:
- LMU 12: Tr’ondëk Täk’it (Klondike Valley).
- LMU 14: Tąy Dë̀kdhät (Top of the World).
- First Nations’ opportunities to exercise harvesting and subsistence rights depend on the continued availability of, and access to, healthy fish and wildlife populations and intact ecological landscapes, heritage, and cultural
- People may not be aware of potential damage they may cause when out on the land for recreational pursuits.
- People engaged in industrial or commercial activities on the land may not have a strong connection to place or understanding of the potential impact of their activities.
Goals
- Healthy land–people relationships are widespread in the Region and lead to stewardship.
- Healthy land and harvestable species are abundant and used responsibly by a wide breadth of community members of different backgrounds.
- Land use activities do not compromise First Nations harvesting and subsistence rights as established by land claim agreements and constitutional law.
- A diverse range of sustainable recreational opportunities exist in the Region.
- Recreation activities are carried out in a manner consistent with the principles of stewardship and sustainability.
- New trails and/or the revival of historic trails are developed in a manner consistent with stewardship and sustainability, and in respect of Tr’ondëk Hwëch’in’s wishes for what information is made public.
Stewardship Directions
- Treat the land with respect, practice reciprocity, and act with humility.
- Minimize your impacts on the land.
- Avoid conflicting land uses in important harvesting, cultural, and traditional use areas.
- Do not compromise First Nations harvesting and subsistence rights.
- Maintain access to recreational trails by delineating locations in proposals, identifying any potential land use conflicts, and applying the mitigation hierarchy.
- Use existing trails, roads, and access points rather than creating new surface disturbances.
Implementation Actions
- In collaboration with planning partners (for example, the Klondike Active Transport and Trails Society), develop a comprehensive trails plan for the Region that identifies existing trails, historic trails, no-go areas for recreation, and future trail development opportunities.
- Consider projected climate change impacts on safety and accessibility of trail systems.
Governance Recommendations
- Continue collecting community-based input related to harvesting activities to support community stewardship and inform ongoing monitoring. As part of this, new metrics and additional data collection may be required.
- Appropriate mitigation measures should be recommended as part of the application and review process for new land use tenure.
- Promote on-the-land education and gathering opportunities.
Knowledge Gaps
- There is limited information available on the impacts of development on the overall use and enjoyment on the land. Research these impacts, their extent, and potential mitigations.