Projects

• Land Use Planning
• Thematic Mapping

• Negotiations
• Dubawnt and Upper Thelon Land Use Planning

South of 60 Land Use Planning

The Athabasca Denesuline Northern Land Use Vision is to manage the use of the land and resources of the Athabasca in an integrated and environmentally sound manner to ensure ecological, economic, social, cultural and spiritual benefits for present and future generations.

Our Vision is the result of extensive review and consultation in our communities to ensure public input and direction. Three First Nations and four municipal communities, including Camsell Portage, Uranium City, Fond-du Lac, Stony Rapids, Black Lake, Wollaston and Hatchet Lake, united to form the Athabasca Land Use Panel and to prepare the Athabasca land use vision and plan covering First Nation reserves and provincial Crown lands within the Athabasca.

The planning area covers 132,300 sq. km and includes four land use zones:

• Nih bÿk’ÿsórÿdåí (Conservation Zone) – 30%
• Special Management Zone – 40%
• Multiple Use Zone – 27%
• Infrastructure Zone – 3%

Click to view the ALUP Land Use Vision Poster

70% of the planning area is potentially open for new development subject to the Athabasca land use planning guidelines. 30% of the planning area is set aside to protect Athabasca Denesuline land use and occupancy, including cultural places, barren ground caribou habitat, other important terrestrial and aquatic species’ habitats, and important ecological landscapes. The conservation of cultural places, drainage systems and wildlife habitat are paramount throughout the planning area.

A set of overarching land use policies were developed to guide land use including requirements to:

1. Consult with Aboriginal communities, including arrangements of socio-economic benefits;
2. Report and avoid cultural places, archaeological sites, and caribou encountered during development is mandatory
3. Complete licences, permits or other government authorizations and their environmental protection terms, as well as ensure conformity with the Athabasca land use vision and plan.

Northerners have faced many challenges and delays in the development of a land use plan in coordination with government and industry and they appreciate the support of the Athabasca Leadership to move forward to produce a Northern Land Use Vision and Plan.

The Northern Panel and the Prince Albert Grand Council would like to extend their appreciation to all the community members for their participation in this unique planning and development process; it is an important milestone for the future of the Athabasca Region and Saskatchewan.