The Peel River, which winds its way through the heart of the Canadian Arctic, is not only a vital lifeline for the region’s ecosystem, but also home to the Na-Cho Nyäk Dun, Tr’ondёk Hwёch’in, Teetl'it Gwich’in and Vuntut Gwitchin First Nations. The Peel River catchment comprises three meandering rivers, surrounded by high mountains, wide valleys and dense boreal forests. Much of this area has been free of glaciers for millions of years, meaning that many of the plant species found here are biologically unique. The Peel region is also home to rare bears, wolves, wolverines, moose and the world’s largest herd of caribou.
For thousands of years, the Teetl’it Gwich’in have roamed the Peel River catchment area alongside the caribou, living off berries and shrubs, the animals and the crystal-clear water. To this day, this region remains a living history book for the Teetl'it Gwich’in, the origin of their ancestors, their way of life, culture and traditions – it is their identity.
In 2007 and 2008, the Teetl'it Gwich’in and Wilderness International organised joint expeditions to the Peel River catchment area and to Germany. These trips were crucial in raising awareness of the conflict between the land-use plan favoured by the First Nations and the thousands of mining claims in the region. At that time, the legal case had not yet gone to court, but a commission had been set up to resolve the conflict. During these early expeditions, young people visited their traditional lands alongside older members of the community, and an intercultural exchange also took place in Germany. The Teetl’it Gwich’in shared their culture and way of life, drawing international attention to the protection of their homeland. In Germany, they also visited an opencast coal mine and the Saxon Switzerland National Park, which had been a devastated, treeless landscape just 150 years ago.
It makes me incredibly sad to imagine that our home in Canada might one day be marred by open-cast mining, roads and eroded mountains. It’s just awful – it’s hard to put my sadness into words!
In 2015, after we learnt that the case was to be brought before the Supreme Court of Canada, we decided to revive the project. This led to a further expedition to the Peel in 2017, which reinforced the ongoing need for global support in the fight for land and Indigenous protection. This new phase of the project coincided with the escalation of the legal dispute. This once again highlighted the importance of international advocacy and community engagement in the face of industrial threats to the land.
The expeditions brought together Gwich’in and German young people, elders, scientists and conservationists – all with the same goal: to raise awareness of the need to protect the Peel. This gave them the opportunity to reconnect with their traditional territory and, by discovering the beauty and cultural significance of the land, to realise what was at stake. In addition, several scientific studies were carried out and four papers on the properties of medicinal plants were published, further highlighting the ecological importance of the catchment area.
In 2017, a major decision was taken: 80 per cent of the Peel River catchment area is to be permanently protected! That amounts to 55,858 km2 of ecologically and culturally significant mountain wilderness that will remain untouched by industry for ever.
This case also represents a groundbreaking legal milestone! It is the first time that a First Nation’s land-use plan has been so vigorously defended at this level within the Canadian legal system. It is not just a victory – it is a historic turning point that sets a strong legal precedent for future decisions, making its impact all the more monumental!