Posts Tagged ‘bonnetplumeriver’

Yukon First Nations Guarding Peel Watershed

Wednesday, April 20th, 2011

Indian Country Today- With mineral prices climbing, numerous companies with mining rights and interests in the Peel Watershed are eyeing the 16.8-million-acre northern Yukon wilderness for possible development despite the remoteness that used to make it off-limits cost-wise. Thanks to the U.N. Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, which Canada adopted in November 2010, four First Nations are able to stand their ground opposing such development a little more firmly.

For the complete story, visit:

http://indiancountrytodaymedianetwork.com/2011/04/yukon-first-nations-closely-guarding-peel-watershed/

 Sunset by rapids on the Bonnet Plume River.  © Juri Peepre

 

Wild Rivers of the Yukon’s Peel Watershed: A Traveller’s Guide

… is your complete source for planning a 2011 trip to the Yukon’s vast north-eastern wilderness – and learning more about the natural and cultural history of this inspiring landscape. Published in 2008 by Juri Peepre and Sarah Locke, the book is available from Yukon outdoor and bookstores (Mac’s Fireweed, Up North Adventures), Mountain Equipment Co-op (Vancouver, Calgary, Toronto), and on-line from www.yukonbooks.com.

Wild Rivers is an essential companion to help you navigate the Three Rivers country (the Wind, Snake and Bonnet Plume), as well as the Peel, Hart, Ogilvie, Blackstone and Rat rivers. This well illustrated field reference will be a welcome gift for your friends or family who are thinking about a future northern canoeing or hiking trip.

The book features detailed river descriptions, maps, landscape and historic photos, tips on river travel in the Peel region, and engaging descriptions of the flora, fauna, geology, human history and conservation story. For more information, see About Our Book posted in the right margin.

Contact Us

To order the book directly from the authors, send a cheque or money order payable to Juri Peepre, 1575 Windermere Loop Road, Windermere, BC, V0B 2L2. Price: $24.95 + $1.19 GST + Shipping = $32.00 CDN. For more information, phone 250-688-1005, or post your comment or question in this blog.

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Yukon Government Tries to Discredit Peel Watershed Land Use Plan

Monday, January 3rd, 2011

 

The Yukon government has attempted to toss out the findings of the Peel Watershed Planning Commission, saying that the conservation oriented land use plan must be re-done to make more room for mining, roads and other industrial development.

In a widely acclaimed plan released in 2009 with strong public approval, the Commission recommended 80% protection for the watershed, including well known major tributaries such as the Wind, Snake, Bonnet Plume and Hart rivers. The affected First Nations have called for 100% protection of the watershed.

The Yukon government’s vague media statement released on the eve of the holiday season, asserted that “…proposing a high level of protection for such a large portion of the region… is inconsistent with the Yukon government view of the final [First Nations land claims] agreements.” This is a bogus argument, clearly not shared by the First Nations who have spent 5 years working on a land use plan for their traditional territories that reflects the spirit and intent of their land claims agreements.

While the current government is challenging permanent wilderness protection in the Peel watershed, it has committed to extending the staking moratorium for another year, while the land use plan is finalized. Earlier during the planning process more than 10,000 mining claims were staked in the watershed, compromising the ability to create protected areas. While the government is reluctant to protect nature, it does want to protect these existing mining claims.

The Yukon government and the First Nations must now work out a final response to the Planning Commission so that a land use plan can be approved in 2011.

To learn more and take action, visit: www.protectpeel.ca

For the latest news go to: http://peelwatershed.blogspot.com/

Yukon News: http://www.yukon-news.com/news/20996/

Campsite on upper Snake River at Reptile Creek.  ©  Juri Peepre.

Wild Rivers of the Yukon’s Peel Watershed: A Traveller’s Guide

… is your complete source for planning a trip to the Yukon’s vast north-eastern wilderness – and learning more about the natural and cultural history of this inspiring landscape. Published in 2008 by Juri Peepre and Sarah Locke, the book is available from Yukon outdoor and bookstores (Mac’s Fireweed, Up North Adventures), Mountain Equipment Co-op (Vancouver, Calgary, Toronto), and on-line from www.yukonbooks.com.

Wild Rivers is an essential companion to help you navigate the Three Rivers country (the Wind, Snake and Bonnet Plume), as well as the Peel, Hart, Ogilvie, Blackstone and Rat rivers. This well illustrated field reference will be a welcome gift for your friends or family who are thinking about a future northern canoeing or hiking trip.

The book features detailed river descriptions, maps, landscape and historic photos, tips on river travel in the Peel region, and engaging descriptions of the flora, fauna, geology, human history and conservation story. For more information, see About Our Book posted in the right margin.

Contact Us

To order the book directly from the authors, send a cheque or money order payable to Juri Peepre, 1575 Windermere Loop Road, Windermere, BC, V0B 2L2. Price: $24.95 + $1.19 GST + Shipping = $32.00 CDN. For more information, phone 250-688-1005, or post your comment or question in this blog. 

 

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Governments to Decide Peel Watershed’s Future

Friday, October 15th, 2010

After ten months of public comment on the Peel Watershed Land Use Plan, the final recommendations prepared by the Planning Commission will now be appraised by the Yukon and First Nations governments, with a decision expected in the new year. In a far-sighted plan, the Commission called for 80% of the watershed to be protected, including well known major tributaries such as the Wind, Snake, Bonnet Plume and Hart rivers.  Even so, the Nacho Nyak Dun and Tr’on dek Hwech’in First Nations say their goal is to protect 100% of the Peel watershed, a message that was re-enforced in well attended community meetings in the Yukon and Northwest Territories.

The majority of northerners and many other Canadians, have spoken clearly and forcefully about their desire to protect the Peel watershed – this was the dominant message conveyed during 8 public events held earlier this fall, and in submissions to the Yukon government. At the Mayo meeting, Elder Jimmy Johnny said,

“It doesn’t matter how much money the mining and exploration companies bring into the Yukon, what matters is the water, the fish, the people.” (quoted by Mary Walden in http://peelwatershed.blogspot.com/ )

In response, the Yukon government has begun its campaign of fear to discredit the publicly supported conservation plan, and tout the old “multiple use” solution of industrial development “balanced” by an absolute minimum of protection. One hapless Minister went so far as to suggest singling out the tourism industry for a tax to pay for protecting wilderness – he later withdrew his remarks after a strong reaction from the community. Robert Alexie Sr., at a meeting in Ft. McPherson, offered a much more robust interpretation on the economics of conservation when he said, “If we leave that alone, if its protected, our people will be wealthy for the rest of their lives.”

Duo Lakes near the Snake River headwaters

From a ridge high above Duo Lakes, you can see the Snake River valley disappear to the North.Photo: J. Peepre

The public consultation period may be over, but the political conversation has warmed up – and the public, conservation organization, First Nations community, and tourism industry voices still need to be heard until the Yukon government finally gets the point: Yukon people and Canadians from across the land want to protect the Peel watershed! It’s a once-in-a-generation opportunity for this government to create a permanent and priceless legacy for people, and for the wild life of the Yukon’s celebrated boreal mountains and waters.

To learn more and take action, visit:

http://www.protectpeel.ca/

For the latest news go to:

http://peelwatershed.blogspot.com/

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Great Reviews and Testimonials for “Wild Rivers of the Yukon’s Peel Watershed”

Wednesday, October 8th, 2008

 

Wild Rivers of the Yukon’s Peel Watershed: A Traveller’s Guide, published by Juri Peepre and Sarah Locke in June 2008, features 8 of the premiere navigable tributaries of the vast Peel watershed. This well-illustrated book describes the fascinating natural and cultural history of the region, and provides paddling trip details for the Wind, Snake, Bonnet Plume, Hart, Blackstone, Rat, Peel and Ogilvie rivers. Rounding out the book contents, readers will find poetry, essays and the ongoing Peel watershed conservation story.

For on-line orders, visit www.yukonbooks.com, or purchase from Mac’s Fireweed, Up North Adventures, or CPAWS-Yukon in Whitehorse.

Reviews & Testimonials

Canadian Wilderness, Fall 2008

“If you’ve been reading Canadian Wilderness for a few years, you’ll already know about the remote, beautiful Peel watershed. Author Juri Peepre led a CPAWS national tour in 2007 to raise awareness about the need to conserve this relatively unknown area threatened by industrial development. Peepre and co-author Sarah Locke have now produced a comprehensive guide to canoeing and hiking this spectacular area. This well-researched account of the geography, natural and human history of the watershed is recommended for those planning a trip, and for vicarious paddlers too. For more on the Peel watershed, read the Spring 2007 and Fall 2005 issues of Canadian Wilderness online at www.cpaws.org”
  

The Thought Kitchen: blog.nau.com

 

“Your river notes were incredibly helpful. In fact, when we returned to Whitehorse we went straight to Mac’s Fireweed Books (which is a terrific bookstore – especially the magazine section) and bought multiple copies of your new book: Wild Rivers of the Yukon’s Peel Watershed.”

 

Brian Brett, poet, novelist and journalist, Salt Spring Island, BC

 

“I got the book, and it’s wonderful. Dense and alluring. My heart just went out to be back on the river. I still dream of returning. I feel privileged to be in the new version.”

 

See also the blog comments posted earlier.

 

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