Buffalo Lake, River, and Trails
Last updated: November 2011
Buffalo Lake, River and Trails is an area of approximately 2,177 km² that includes the western portion of Ejie Túé (Buffalo Lake) and Ejie Túé Dehé (Buffalo River), and lies within the southeastern corner of the Dehcho Region.
Importance of Buffalo Lake
- The Buffalo Lake area, which consists of Ejie Túé (Buffalo Lake) and Ejie Túé Dehé (Buffalo River), has been important to the Dene and Métis for untold generations. A traditional hunting, trapping and berry harvesting area, the western portion of Buffalo Lake is still used by harvesters and is the site of the K’atł’odeeche First Nation annual fall hunt.
- The Buffalo Lake Candidate Protected Area provides significant habitat for moose, waterfowl, and fish spawning. The area is also rich in cultural history, containing a number of archaeological, spiritual, and culturally significant sites. These include numerous cabins and campsites, trap lines and trails, burial sites, and other sacred areas.
Status
"[We] need this land to teach our children our culture and traditional living." (K’atł’odeeche First Nation member, 2006)
- The K’atł’odeeche First Nation entered Buffalo Lake, River, and Trails into the Protected Area Strategy as an Area of Interest in 2006.
- The Department of Environment and Natural Resources has sponsored Buffalo Lake, River, and Trails as a Candidate Critical Wildlife Area following a proposal from the K’atł’odeeche First Nation in April 2010.
- The Buffalo Lake, River, and Trails Candidate Protected Area is at Step 5 of the PAS process.
- The Buffalo Lake, River, and Trails Candidate Protected Area has been protected from new development until October 2011 under an interim land withdrawal, which is part of the Dehcho Interim Measures Agreement.
Next Steps
- A working group of surrounding communities, governments and stakeholders has been established and is overseeing the documentation and assessment of the area's cultural, ecological and economic values and developing recommendations to conserve, manage and protect those values
Vision Statement
The Buffalo Lake (Ejie Túé), River (Ejie Túé Dehé) and Trails area has sustained people for generations and has enriched descendants of the Dene with beliefs, values, knowledge and skills. Rich in resources, the people have depended on this area for traditional harvesting activities and as a sanctuary for healing and spiritual celebration. By working together in harmony and by protecting the Buffalo Lake, River and Trails, we honour the sacred nature of the area for future generations.
Reports
- 2012 - Buffalo Lake | Socio-Economic Assessment (in progress)
- 2011 - Buffalo Lake | Renewable Resources Assessment (pdf)
- 2011 - Buffalo Lake | Ecological Assessment Phase 2 (in publication)
- 2008 - Buffalo Lake | Cultural Documentation for the K’atł’odeeche First Nation Phase 2 (contact the PAS Secretariat for more information)
- 2008 - Buffalo Lake | Non-Renewable Resource Assessment (full text pdf)
- 2007 - Buffalo Lake | Cultural Documentation for the K’atł’odeeche First Nation Phase 1 (contact the PAS Secretariat for more information)
- 2007 - Buffalo Lake | Ecological Assessment Phase 1 (summary pdf | full text pdf)
- 2007 - Buffalo Lake | Hydrocarbon Assessment Summary Report (link)
Working Group
- 2010 - Buffalo Lake | Working Group Terms of Reference (pdf)
- More details on the working group can be found here.
