Carcross/Tagish First Nation in Yukon celebrates commitment to protecting its river

Community members inCarcross/Tagish First Nation held hands withofficials from the territorial and federal governments as they honoured the new management plan that willprotect the Tagish Riverat a ceremonyon Saturday.

"I don't know if you guys noticed that swan that came and circled around ... it says we're doing good," former chiefMark Wedgeof the Carcross/Tagish First Nation said at the end of the ceremony.

About 30 participants indulged in smudging and prayers at the Tagish Bridge Recreation Site, southeast of Whitehorse. All were there to acknowledge their commitment to the Tagish River Habitat Protection Area management plan that was unveiled last November.

The plan is a collaborative initiative between the First Nation, the Yukon government and Ottawa.Itincludes several recommendations to protect atotal area of five square kilometres that is home to arange of species. It also aims to restore and preserve the natural state of the Tagish River shoreline between Tagish and Marsh lakes.

Wedge, who chaired the planning committee,said the management plan is rooted in First Nations beliefs and values.

He added it must start with re-establishing a good relationship with the river.

"Mother Earth is crying and hurting," he said.

"We have to try to heal her. But to heal her, we have to heal ourselves. And the way we start to heal ourselves is to reconnect with the land. So that's why [we have] ceremonies. And the thing I always say to young people is to just go out to reconnect with the land."

A plan for all living creatures

John Ryder, with the Yukon's Department of Environment, said one of the challenges with the plan is finding a balance between the use of the area and protecting wildlife.

"People want to come boating ... and then how do you manage that when you're trying to maintain the cultural and ecological value at the same time?" Ryder told CBC on Saturday.

"Can't solve everything during a planning exercise. There's still a lot of work to be done moving forward."

Scott Cameron, a wildlifeviewing specialist with the Department of Environment, emphasized the need toprotecting birds. He saidthe Tagish River area is one of the most important sites in southern Yukon formigratory waterfowl that includes a wide variety of ducks andswans.

"It's critical, very importantto have these areas for the birds torest and to feed," Cameron said Saturday.

According to the final document, the management planfollows the natural rhythm of the four seasons as a way to recognize the Indigenous world view.

The plan is divided into sections the medicine wheelthat describes each seasons and challenges.

"The medicine wheelprovides a spiritual connection an understanding of traditional knowledge acquired over time through use and experience," the document reads.

Sean McDougall, heritage manager and executive councillor for the Carcross/Tagish First Nation saidthe plan reflects the importance of the river as a place where people gathered for generations.

He also said it's not only a way to commemorate elders but also to secure clean water for future generations.

"It's something that's been very meaningful for us and that we've been striving for for many years," McDougall said.

"Historically, this is where the Tagish and Tlingit people had settled. And this was an area where we used ... quite extensively for cultural values."

McDougall saidthe next steps is working with theimplementation's committee and other governments to look into ways to turn the plan into actions.