Mealy Mountains National Park Reserve
Mealy Mountains National Park Reserve | |
---|---|
Location | Labrador, Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada |
Nearest city | Happy Valley-Goose Bay, Labrador |
Coordinates | 53°24′00″N 59°22′00″W / 53.4°N 59.3667°W |
Area | 10,700 km2 (4,131 sq mi) |
Established | 31 July 2015 |
Governing body | Parks Canada |
Website | Akami−UapishkU−KakKasuak−Mealy Mountains National Park Reserve |
Akami−Uapishkᵘ−KakKasuak−Mealy Mountains National Park Reserve is a
Background
Parks Canada, the governing and administration body for the national park system, has developed a national systems plan identifying 39 different natural regions it aims to represent.[6] Since the 1970s, the Innu people rejected Parks Canada's efforts in the region. However in 2001, after concluding a framework for a land claim agreement, Innu Nation invited Parks Canada to begin conducting a feasibility study regarding whether a new park should be established in Labrador, which would represent the east coast boreal forest.[7] A steering committee was formed, and they held a series of meetings near Lake Melville. One of the concerns brought up by the area residents was regarding the "traditional land uses by Labradorians", which include "the continuing use of personal cabins, boil-ups (lunch and picnic fires), cutting wood for personal use, gathering medicinal and healing herbs, berry picking, fishing, and hunting, trapping and snaring small game".[8]
In May 2008, the committee concluded that a park was feasible.
The park was announced on February 5, 2010 by then
Alex MacDonald of the conservation group Nature Canada said they had been lobbying for the establishment of the park. MacDonald said, "Protecting an area this large will maintain vast amounts of habitat — river habitats, aquatic ecosystems, the tundra habitat as well as boreal forest areas".[5]
The federal government renewed its commitment to the park reserve in 2015, proposing "Akami−Uapishkᵘ−KakKasuak−Mealy Mountains" as the name for the country's ninth National Park Reserve. "Akami−Uapishkᵘ" is the Innu name for the area, meaning White Mountain across, while "KakKasuak" (or ĸakĸaksuak) is the Labrador Inuit word for mountain.[13] The National Park Reserve was officially established as Canada's 46th national park with the July 31, 2015 signing of a federal/provincial Land Transfer Memorandum of Agreement. The lands were officially transferred to the Canadian federal government by the province of Newfoundland and Labrador on July 10, 2017.
See also
References
- ^ "Protected Planet | Akami–Uapishku - Kakkasuak - Mealy Mountains National Park Reserve Of Canada". Protected Planet. Retrieved 2020-10-13.
- ^ a b Parks Canada Agency, Government of Canada (2018-03-28). "Park Management - Akami-UapishkU-KakKasuak-Mealy Mountains National Park Reserve". www.pc.gc.ca. Retrieved 2019-06-13.
- ^ a b c "Labrador gets new national park". Canadian Broadcasting Corporation. 2010-02-05. Retrieved 2014-08-31.
- ^ a b "National Park Reserve Values (Mealy Mountains)". Parks Canada. 2008-04-07. Retrieved 2008-04-07.
- ^ a b c d Auld, Alison (2010-02-06). "Labrador's new national park". The Chronicle Herald. Retrieved 2010-02-06. [dead link]
- ^ "National Parks of Canada Plan, 3rd edition". Parks Canada. Archived from the original on 2014-08-07. Retrieved 2014-08-31.
- ^ "Map of completing the Parks System". Parks Canada. Archived from the original on 2014-08-06. Retrieved 2014-08-31.
- ^ "Traditional Land Use Within the proposed National Park Reserve (Mealy Mountains)". Parks Canada. 2010-02-05. Retrieved 2010-02-05.
- ^ "The Feasibility Study Process (in the Mealy Mountains)". Parks Canada. 2010-02-05. Retrieved 2010-02-05.
- ^ "Backgrounder - Working toward the creation of Nááts'ihch'oh National Park Reserve". Parks Canada. 2010-02-05. Archived from the original on 2013-10-17. Retrieved 2010-02-05.
- ^ "Canada and Newfoundland and Labrador commit to creating new National Park Reserve in the Mealy Mountains Labrador". Parks Canada. 2010-02-05. Retrieved 2010-02-05.
- ^ "Labrador gets new national park". Toronto Sun. 2010-02-05. Retrieved 2010-02-06.
- ^ Harper Government Announces Creation of a National Park Reserve in the Mealy Mountains of Labrador, Parks Canada news release, July 31, 2015