Feasibility Assessment for a proposed Inuit (Indigenous) protected area adjacent to Torngat Mountains National Park

The Government of Canada and the Nunatsiavut Government signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) in February 2022 to continue work to assess the feasibility of establishing an Inuit (Indigenous) protected area under the Canada National Marine Conservation Areas Act.

Located in the coastal and marine areas of northern Labrador and adjacent to Torngat Mountains National Park, the study area for the proposed Inuit (Indigenous) protected area in the Torngat Area of Interest (“Torngat-AOI”) is approximately 14,906 square kilometres – three times the size of Prince Edward Island. Northern Labrador has been an area of continuous human use and settlement for nearly 10,000 years. Inuit have been stewards of this region since time immemorial and they continue to practice their traditions on its lands and waters.

The signing of the Memorandum of Understanding is a critical step toward meeting the goals of the Imappivut Marine Planning Initiative, which ensures the rights of Inuit are maintained while working to continue to conserve and protect parts of Nunatsiavut’s waters, grounded in the foundation of Inuit Knowledge and priorities of Labrador Inuit.

An Inuit (Indigenous) protected area under the Canada National Marine Conservation Areas Act would connect protected lands with protected waters that are critical to the many species that thrive in this region, a seamless conservation regime from mountain tops to sea bottom. Enhancing the protection of these ecosystems in northern Labrador would not only help to conserve biodiversity, it would contribute to the vitality of Inuit culture and traditions and the well-being of Labrador Inuit. Inuit have extensive knowledge of the land, water and sea ice in this area and are sustained, to this day, by its wildlife. This Inuit Knowledge, coupled with science, will be used as the foundation for the Feasibility Assessment of the Inuit (Indigenous) protected area.

This proposed Inuit (Indigenous) protected area presents an opportunity to strengthen a nation-to-nation relationship between Canada and the Nunatsiavut Government, and will contribute to Canada’s growing network of protected and conserved areas. These protected areas help safeguard Canada’s biodiversity and provide opportunities for Canadians to experience the outdoors, learn about our environment, and significantly contribute to the protection and preservation of Canada’s most vulnerable ecosystems.

Study Area for the Torngat-AOI, Nunatsiavut Government

Study Area for the Torngat-AOI — Text version

This map shows the eastern portion of Quebec, the northern portion of Labrador and Atlantic Ocean.

The map contains a legend to the bottom left of the map and a 0 to 200 km scale just to the right of the legend.

The study area of the Torngat Area of Interest lies on the coast of northern Labrador, east of Ungava Bay. The study area is in yellow and is located adjacent to Torngat Mountains National Park, highlighted in green. In purple, falling within Quebec, the Nunavik Land Claim Area is highlighted. The solid grey area which lies south of Torngat Mountains National Park shows the Labrador Inuit Settlement Area, while the dashed grey area covers the marine portion of the Labrador Inuit Settlement Area. Nunavut lands are coloured orange. A dashed black line marks the Exclusive Economic Zone within the Atlantic Ocean shown in blue, which extends 200 nautical miles from the coast.

The communities of Nain, Hopedale, Makkovik, Postville and Rigolet are located along the coastline. South of Rigolet, the Mealy Mountains National Park Reserve of Canada is highlighted in green.

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