WHITEHORSE – “I’m pleased that the Arctic Council chose the traditional territories of the Ta’an Kwäch’än Council along with the Kwanlin Dun to convene this meeting of the Senior Arctic Officials,” said Chief Kristina Kane. “It provides us with an opportunity to bring some issues to the attention of the nation states and permanent participants who comprise the Council.”
In her greetings to the Arctic Council Chief Kane touched on the need for Yukon and Yukon First Nations to be formally involved in the Pacific Salmon Treaty between Canada and the United States which sets out the regime for Chinook populations. “TKC harvest Chinook salmon as they pass through our traditional territories at the very end of their migration,” Chief Kane says “it is in our best interest to seek more involvement in the protection enhancement and management of that resource.”
She pointed to the recent success of the TKC Fox Creek Restoration Project which saw spawning Chinook returning to the creek for the first time in almost fifty years. She also mentioned the concerns of her citizens regarding the potential for fracking in the Yukon. “ The Ta’an people are deeply concerned that any fracking in the territory will have a devastating effect on our clean drinking water, the Council and Elders Council have both passed Resolutions for TKC to deny fracking on retained lands and to oppose any application for that type of activity within its traditional territories.”
Chief Kane also pointed out to the Senior Arctic Officials TKC support of the Yukon River Intertribal Watershed Council proposed basin wide watershed plan for the Yukon River which flows through Canada and the US both of which are members of the Arctic Council. “We believe we should work collectively to improve and protect the quality of Yukon River water.”