Stewardship and management

Thaıdene Nëné National Park Reserve protects 14 070 km2 of land and water extending from the East Arm of Great Slave Lake and includes nationally significant boreal forest, freshwater and tundra ecosystems. Highlighted by sharp cliffs, deep lakes, and rushing rivers this pristine landscape is the home of caribou, lake trout, muskoxen, wolves and grizzly bears. It is a culturally rich area, including traditional and present-day hunting, fishing, gathering and spiritual areas used by Indigenous peoples.

The national park reserve is a component of the Thaıdene Nëné Indigenous Protected Area (IPA) which also includes a Territorial Protected Area and a Wildlife Conservation Area that are administered by the Government of the Northwest Territories (GNWT). The park’s management is shared between Parks Canada and Indigenous Governments: Łutsël K’é Dene First Nation, Northwest Territory Métis Nation, Deninu Kųę First Nation, and Yellowknives Dene First Nation. Work is conducted collaboratively, and consensus based decisions are made through two management boards. Mǫwhì Gogha Dè Nı̨ı̨tłèè, the Tłı̨chǫ traditional area overlaps the park boundary, and North Slave Metis Alliance also asserts traditional territory in the national park reserve.

The connections within Thaıdene Nëné National Park Reserve – between land and people, water and land, forest and barrens – are a living legacy for all, where Indigenous peoples and Parks Canada welcome the world.