The Government of Yukon, Kwanlin Dün First Nation, Ta’an Kwäch’än Council, the City of Whitehorse and Parks Canada are committed to working together to protect the Chasàn Chuà / McIntyre Creek area.
The parties have signed a Memorandum of Understanding outlining their commitment to work together on establishing an official protected area boundary for Chasàn Chuà / McIntyre Creek, determining a protected area designation and identifying a governance model for managing the area into the future.
The City of Whitehorse committed to establishing Chasàn Chuà / McIntyre Creek Park in the 2040 Official Community Plan. To support this effort, the Government of Yukon introduced new protections for the McIntyre Creek area in April 2023. The protections included an expansion of a previous ban on staking in the area under the Quartz Mining Act and the establishment of an administrative reserve to guide land use decisions.
Through the Memorandum of Understanding, the parties agree to determine the next steps toward permanently protecting the area while considering their joint vision and goals, engagement with community partners and stakeholders and the social, cultural, environmental and economic values of the area.
McIntyre Creek is a wildlife corridor that runs through the heart of the City of Whitehorse. It sits within the traditional territories of the Kwanlin Dün First Nation and Ta’an Kwäch’än Council. Its Southern Tutchone name is Chasàn Chuà. The area supports a diverse ecosystem of species and habitats and is valued as an accessible recreational area.
Establishing Chasàn Chuà / McIntyre Creek as a permanent protected area supports resilience to climate change impacts and biodiversity loss. Protecting and restoring nature and increasing the Yukon’s protected areas is a key commitment of the Canada-Yukon Nature Agreement.
Thank you to Kwanlin Dün First Nation, Ta’an Kwäch’än Council, the City of Whitehorse and Parks Canada for your commitment to work together to protect Chasàn Chuà / McIntyre Creek. Establishing this protected area will provide valued recreational opportunities for Yukoners to connect with and learn from nature, promoting mental and physical wellbeing. It will also increase the total protected areas in the Yukon, supporting our collective efforts to protect against climate change impacts and biodiversity loss for future generations.
Chasàn Chuà – Copper Creek is a significant place for Kwanlin Dün and Ta’an Kwäch’än people. Since long ago, this site has been a place where we camped, harvested moose and caribou, fished Chinook salmon, and gathered berries and medicines. Our ancestors also gathered copper nuggets in and along the creek to make hunting and cutting tools such as spears, arrows, and knives. Working together with partners to protect this area will teach our children and grandchildren how we value and respect this special place.
This Memorandum of Understanding lays the groundwork for us to continue our collaboration to find a way to properly protect this important fish and wildlife habitat. McIntyre Creek / Chasàn Chuà's historical relevance to Ta’an Kwäch’än Council is significant and is a big part of who we are as a Nation. We are pleased that all the next steps to protect these areas will involve a full partnership. I look forward to the work ahead on this invaluable initiative.
The City of Whitehorse 2040 Official Community Plan committed to establishing the Chasàn Chuà / McIntyre Creek Park. This MOU marks the first step towards creating that protected space that showcases our community’s wilderness, ensures long lasting opportunities for residents to connect with nature, and protects the wide variety of wildlife and vegetation that exist in the area. I am so proud to be working together with so many passionate and committed partners and look forward to seeing this vibrant green space protected for generations to come.
The protection of the environment and nature must be a collaborative effort. When different levels of government join forces with Indigenous nations and weave Indigenous knowledge and ways of knowing with western science, the very best outcome is achieved. Thank you to Kwanlin Dün First Nation, Ta’an Kwäch’än Council, Parks Canada, the City of Whitehorse, and the Government of Yukon for your vision and dedication to the protection of the beautiful Chasàn Chuà / McIntyre Creek area. You can count on the continued support from our government in making this new protected area a reality.
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The McIntyre Creek area spans approximately 4,600 hectares, from Fish Lake to the Yukon River and is home to an abundance of wildlife.
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Permanent protection of this area could be achieved with any combination of municipal, territorial or federal tools. The possible designation for McIntyre Creek will be determined together with partners.
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The Canada-Yukon Nature Agreement is a three-year agreement that took effect in April 2023. Through the agreement, the Government of Canada is supporting the Government of Yukon and Indigenous governments to work towards initiatives related to conservation, protected areas and biodiversity.
Laura Seeley
Cabinet Communications
867-332-7627
laura.seeley@yukon.ca
Kyle Nightingale
Communications, Environment
867-334-5922
kyle.nightingale@yukon.ca
Dylan MacNeil
Communications, Kwanlin Dün First Nation
867-332-3106
dylan.macneil@kdfn.net
Janet Smellie
Communications, Ta’an Kwäch’än Council
867-334-5298
communicationsoffice@taan.ca
Oshea Jephson
Communications, City of Whitehorse
867-689-0515
oshea.jephson@whitehorse.ca
Media Relations
Parks Canada
855-862-1812
pc.media@pc.gc.ca