18. Stewardship - Use of Renewable Resources

Le rapport sur l’état de l’environnement 2022 est un document technique destiné à un usage interne. Il n’est disponible qu’en anglais.

Introduction

The use of renewable resources such as wildlife, fish and plants has always been closely linked to Indigenous cultural and spiritual values, on the land activities, the traditional economy and food security. Hunting, fishing, trapping and other harvesting are important sources of country food, health and nutrition for Indigenous communities. Similarly, many non-Indigenous residents of the NWT and visitors from outside the NWT associate important social, spiritual, and environmental values with their use of the NWT’s renewable resources.

These indicators provide information on a number of different renewable resources utilized by people in the NWT. The indicators provide information about changes in abundance, distribution, access to and sustainable use of these resources by current generations, and if current trends continue, they provide an early warning system about sustainability of use for future generations.

 

18.1 Trends in volume of timber harvest

This indicator measures the amount of wood harvested under forest authorizations on Crown land in the NWT. This excludes any harvest operations on settled land claim areas or any other private lands. It includes wood harvested for commercial use through Timber Cutting Permits (TCPs) and Timber Cutting Licenses (TCLs) as well as for personal use through Free Timber Cutting Permits (FTCPs). These commercial and domestic timber authorizations are issued and tracked by Forest Management Division, Department of Environment and Climate Change (ECC).

This indicator was prepared by the Government of the Northwest Territories, Department of Environment and Climate Change using information from the Forest Management Division.

NWT Focus

Approximately 71% of the NWT is below the treeline, and includes a total of 80 million hectares, or 800,000 square kilometers, of forest land. Of the total amount of forested area in the NWT, about 10-15% could potentially support commercial forest harvesting.

Commercial timber harvesting has occurred in many places in the NWT but has primarily been confined to small volumes in localized areas in the southern part of the territory. Typical commercial harvest operations in the NWT are small-scale local businesses harvesting from 500 m3 to 10,000 m3 per year.

As of the 2020/21 fiscal year, there was only one company with an active TCL. The licensee is authorized to harvest up to 7,500 m3 from the Cameron Hills timber supply area for the purpose of producing fuel wood and/or rough sawn lumber. This product flexibility grants the operator the ability to follow market trends while best utilizing the timber resource over the 5-year life of the TCL.

Commercial harvesting has important potential for the NWT as it represents direct use of forest fiber for local and export purposes. Timber harvesting is one of a relatively small number of local resource-based economic opportunities in the NWT and represents an opportunity for a sustainable local economy. It is important to accurately track commercial timber harvest to ensure long term sustainable forest management planning and practices.

 

Current View: status and trend

Resource exploration and extraction currently have the largest footprint on forests in NWT, in particular seismic exploration programs. The volume of timber cut during a typical year of seismic exploration is at least an order of magnitude greater than the volume cut through commercial timber harvest operations.

Since 1980, the total volume of timber harvested across the NWT has generally remained between 20,000 m3 to 30,000 m3 (Figure 1). The majority of this volume is processed locally by small operators and is used to service the needs of the NWT’s 33 communities. An exception to this trend was a period of increased timber harvesting in the late 1990’s which resulted in approximately 360,000 m3 being harvested within a 3-year period (Figure 1). Harvesting during this period was focused in the area around Fort Liard in the Dehcho region, and most of the resource was exported to southern markets for processing.

Figure 1: Timber harvest revenue by year. Data source: ECC.GNWT unpublished data

Between 2017and 2020, there has been an average of 1,078 FTCPs issued per year, authorizing an average annual harvest volume of 23,433 m3 (Table 1)

The timber harvested through FTCPs is typically used for personal wood heating (Figure 2) and is primarily obtained from recently fire-killed (burned) stands dominated by spruce and pine.

Free timber cutting permits (Table 1) are not tracked in terms of where harvest is conducted (spatially), unless they are issued in a woodlot area. Therefore, the volumes tracked through FTCPs rely on application volumes which are often not indicative of actual harvest, rather than post-harvest scaling data, acquired via in-person volume measurements.

 

Table 1. Free Timber cutting permits (FTCPs) issued in the NWT and volumes applied for by the permittee. Source: ECC, GNWT unpublished data

 

Looking around

NWT forests are relatively untouched from a timber harvest perspective compared to other parts of the boreal forest in Canada. The NWT has a small population and number of communities, and a limited network of permanent and temporary access roads. The commercial timber harvesting industry is relatively very small compared to every other forested jurisdiction in Canada (Ref. 1).

 

Looking forward

Looking forward, many communities are interested in exploring opportunities to provide employment to residents through forest harvesting. In recent years, Forest Management Agreements (FMAs) have been established with joint venture Dene/Metis companies in two communities in the southern NWT that can authorize a total annual harvest of up to 310,000 m3. These FMAs were created with the intention of meeting the fiber demands for a proposed pellet mill and power-generating facility in Enterprise.

Currently there is a plan to construct a wood pellet manufacturing facility at Enterprise that would utilize timber from the southern NWT. If construction of the proposed pellet mill goes ahead, timber harvesting in our southern regions will increase substantially. The project is anticipated to create many direct and indirect skilled jobs not only at the mill site, but also in the forested lands in the area, which would expand the region’s economic diversity. A project of this scale would showcase the potential of the NWT’s forests for creating local and sustainable employment.

In recent years, more communities have been exploring ways to participate in the forest sector to create sustainable local employment through a variety of local, small-scale forestry projects. These projects are typically looking to source a few thousand cubic meters of wood for local sawmilling or fuelwood processing. These smaller initiatives create a small hub of local employment, which may be seasonal or temporary in nature.

 

Find out more

For information about our forest resources, go to Forest Management Division. 2021. Website. Available at: https://www.ecc.gov.nt.ca/en/services/forest-resources

For information on other sources of forest removals, see Landscape Changes indicators.

 

References

Ref. 1. Natural Resources Canada. 2020. The State of Canada’s Forests: Annual Report 2020. Available at https://www.nrcan.gc.ca/our-natural-resources/forests-forestry/state-can...

 

18.2 Trends in trapping

This indicator tracks the number of people in the NWT participating in trapping.

NWT marten lot at auction.

Trapping participation is influenced by a variety of factors including fur prices, employment levels, the cost of trapping equipment, fuel & supplies, and other employment opportunities. Active trappers are defined as those who sell furs through participation in the Genuine Mackenzie Valley Furs (GMVF) program, jointly administered by the Government of the Northwest Territories (GNWT) Departments of Environment and Climate Change (ECC) and Industry, Tourism and Investment (ITI). Other individuals may harvest fur for their personal use, but that is not captured in this indicator.

This indicator was prepared by the GNWT, ECC using information from the GMVF.

 

NWT Focus

Wild furbearer populations are an important natural resource that trappers harvest to continue their traditional activity and lifestyle in the NWT. Traditional trapping areas continue to be used and shared by individuals and families in many communities.

 

Current View: status and trend

The number of people trapping in the NWT has decreased since the early 1980s. A further decline occurred in 2020/21 during the COVID pandemic as the result of a number of factors, including impacts of travel restrictions on sales at fur auctions (Figure 1).

 

Figure 1: Total number of active trappers in the NWT (1957-2021). Source: ECC unpublished data.

Trapping is rarely a full-time occupation for most participants. For some, trapping provides a supplement to their household income. The industry is reliant upon trappers having the means and resources necessary to actively participate. Trapping activities occur in cycles through the year and follow the seasons of the animals based on when their fur is at prime. The harvesting season starts in October and closes in May, Once the season closes, trappers are dressing the fur, taking down their equipment and putting it away for the summer, In September, the trapper is preparing for the new season. The commitment required to harvest influences the number of harvesters, pelts harvested and income of trappers. Many trappers use their primary or secondary sources of income for the financial means to go trapping. The GMVF program provides eligible active trappers with an annual grubstake to assist with seasonal startup costs (Ref. 1). The amount given to an eligible trapper is determined by the number of pelts they sent to auction the previous year.

The pandemic and other market factors have resulted in fewer trappers going out on the land and harvesting, although the market is seeing higher prices and clearance levels. In 2021, the NWT received $388,628 for 9,954 pelts sold at the Fur Harvesters Auction, compared to receiving just $172,704 for 10,309 pelts in 2020. That is an increase of $215,924 (125%) with 355 less pelts sold, with the four biggest NWT sellers being Marten, Wolf, Wolverine and Lynx.

 

Looking around

According to the Canadian Nature Survey (Ref. 3) less than 1% of Canadians go trapping in 2012 (year of the survey).  

According to the Fur Institute of Canada, fur trapping plays an important role in wildlife monitoring, species protection and conservation research. Research has found that people who participate in trapping do so for many reasons, the most commonly listed ones are: lifestyle, nature appreciation, wildlife management, affiliation with other people, self-sufficiency, income (sometimes complimentary to their household budget, sometimes a critical component or an important safety net to household income).  (Ref. 2).

 

Looking forward

The GNWT administers and delivers several trapping programs including Trapper Training and Take a Kid Trapping, Take a Family on the Land, Community Harvesters Assistance Program as a commitment to support traditional harvesters across the Northwest Territories and to promote a vibrant and thriving traditional economy.

 

Find out more

All wild furs in the Genuine Mackenzie Valley Fur (GMVF) program are harvested as part of an ongoing, centuries-old tradition using the most humane trapping techniques in the fur industry today. 

The GMVF provides NWT trappers with access to the international fur market.

More information on the Genuine Mackenzie Valley Furs Program can be found at: https://www.ecc.gov.nt.ca/en/services/genuine-mackenzie-valley-fur-program

 

References

Ref. 1.  GNWT. 2020. Trappers Grubstake Program. Available at: https://www.enr.gov.nt.ca/en/services/genuine-mackenzie-valley-fur-program/trappers-grubstake-program

Ref. 2.  Fur Institute of Canada. 2019. About Trapping. Available at: https://fur.ca/fur-trapping/about-trapping/#:~:text=When%20aboriginals%20are%20included%20there%20are%20about%2050%2C000,for%20nearly%201%2F3%20of%20Canada%E2%80%99s%20fur%20pelt%20output

Ref. 3   Federal, Provincial, and Territorial Governments of Canada. 2014. The 2012 Canadian Nature Survey: Awareness, Participation, and Expenditures in Nature-based Recreation, Conservation, and Subsistence Activities. Ottawa, ON: Canadian Councils of Resource Ministers. Available at: https://biodivcanada.chm-cbd.net/sites/ca/files/2017-12/2012_Canadian_Nature_Survey_Report%28accessible_opt%29.pdf  

 

18.3 Trends in hunting and fishing in the NWT

This indicator tracks changes in the number of people who hunt and fish recreationally or for subsistence in NWT ecozones. This indicator does not track commercial hunting and fishing activities.

Fishing in the Kakisa River. - M Oldham.

There are several categories of hunters in the NWT:

  1. Indigenous Harvesters
    • Under the NWT Wildlife Act (Ref. 1), Indigenous harvesters do not require a hunting licence to exercise their Indigenous or treaty harvesting rights. Indigenous harvesters are required to carry identification that proves their right to harvest in a particular area. There are very few restrictions on harvesting for Indigenous harvesters. Some restrictions include but are not limited to harvest limits and seasons put in place for certain species and locations for conservation reasons.
    • Indigenous harvesters are also eligible for a General Hunting Licence (GHL) to harvest in areas within the NWT outside of their rights areas, subject to applicable land claim agreements. There can be more limits on GHL holders than Indigenous harvesters, including quotas and seasons for certain species and locations.
  2. Resident Hunters
    • Individuals without Indigenous harvesting rights who have lived in the NWT for at least one year are eligible for a Resident Hunting Licence. Resident Hunters are subject to specific quotas and seasons that vary by species and location.
  3. Outfitted Sport Hunters
    • Non-NWT residents are eligible for a Non-resident or Non-resident Alien Hunting Licence, depending on whether they are from Canada or another country. Non-resident and non-resident alien hunters are subject to specific quotas and seasons that vary by species and location.

Anglers in the NWT are classified into three categories:

  1. Indigenous Anglers
    • Indigenous people who fish for subsistence use and do not sell fish. These anglers do not need a permit to fish in the NWT.
  2. Resident Anglers
    • Non-Indigenous NWT residents who hold a permit to fish in the NWT.
  3. Non-resident Anglers
    • People from outside the NWT who hold a permit to fish in the NWT.

Fishing is permitted in all NWT’s ecozones, however some lakes or zones may be closed or restricted for a period of time each year (Ref. 2). The Northwest Territories Fisheries Regulations, under the federal Fisheries Act (Ref. 3), regulate various aspects of fishing in the NWT. Information regarding fishing catch size limits as well as area closures for fishing in the NWT can be viewed online (Ref. 4).

This indicator was prepared by the Government of the Northwest Territories (GNWT), Department of Environment and Climate Change using information from the GNWT licensing system (Ref. 5), Outfitter report forms (Ref. 5), NWT Bureau of Statistics’ NWT Labour Force Surveys (Ref. 6), and community-based monitoring programs (Ref. 14).

 

NWT Focus

Hunting and fishing are important cultural, social and economic activities in the NWT. Harvesting is an important part of Indigenous culture and northern lifestyle, and help connect people to the environment, land and water. Hunting and fishing provide high quality country food, which is important for human health and nutrition in northern communities, including those in the NWT (Ref. 7). Reporting on hunting and fishing activities in the NWT helps track the status of in an important traditional land-based activity that links the environment to the health, well-being, culture and lifestyle of NWT residents.

A new Wildlife Act and associated regulations came into force in 2014 following extensive engagement, and collaboration with Indigenous governments, Indigenous organizations, renewable resources boards, hunters, industry, and tourism stakeholders, as well as the public (Ref. 8).

Additional regulations that needed more discussions before being completed (“Phase 2 Regulations”) came into force on July 1, 2019. The new regulations addressed issues raised during the development of the Wildlife Act, including: the importation of invasive species such as mule and white-tailed deer, llamas, alpacas, domestic sheep and domestic goats, additional habitat protection for bats and raptors, the declaration of wild pigs as a pest species, conservation of boreal caribou, a requirement for wildlife management and monitoring plans by industry and enabling young harvesters from outside the NWT to go hunting with a guide.

The GNWT provides the Northwest Territories Hunter Education course for free to educate NWT hunters of all backgrounds and experience levels on how to be safe and respectful of wildlife, people, the environment, and themselves while hunting. As of January 1, 2020, this course is required for new resident hunters. The course is available online and may be offered in person upon request, where resources and capacity allow (Ref. 9). A new hunter education course for high school students was rolled out as a pilot in 9 communities in January 2022, and will be available for all NWT high schools in the 2022/2023 school year.

 

Current status and trend

According to the NWT Bureau of Statistics, on average about 40% of NWT residents go either hunting or fishing in the course of a survey year (Table 1).

Table 1: Percentage of NWT persons 15 years and over who have hunted or fished (excluding commercial activity), divided by ethnicity, during 1999, 2004, 2009, 2014 and 2019. Prepared by: NWT Bureau of Statistics; based on the 1999 NWT Labour Force Survey and 2004, 2009, 2014 and 2019 NWT Community Surveys.

Indigenous Harvesters

Indigenous harvesters and GHL holders are active in all ecozones. In 2008, about 9,000 people in the NWT held a GHL. Approximately 64% of GHL holders resided in the large Taiga Plains ecozone. The proportion of GHL holders who go hunting in any given year is not tracked. Under the Wildlife Act, Indigenous hunters do not need a licence to exercise Indigenous or treaty rights in their traditional use area.

 

Information about Indigenous harvesting is collected by some Indigenous governments, Indigenous organizations, co-management boards, and communities. In areas where this information is collected, it can provide insights about changes in harvesting patterns over long periods of time. For example, harvest monitoring programs in the Gwich’in Settlement Area and the Inuvialuit Settlement Region collected information from local harvesters on their hunting effort and success between 2010 to 2020. Results indicated that hunting did not meet the needs of their household for caribou meat about 50% of the time (Ref. 14), citing challenges in accessing enough caribou, lack of available caribou and low abundance of caribou as the primary reasons (Ref. 14).

 

Resident Hunters

The number of resident hunter licences sold annually declined by about 3% per year from 1990 to 2004, but stabilized at about 1200-1300 hunting licences annually since 2007-08 (Figure 1).

Figure 1: Number of licences sold to resident hunters in NWT each hunting year from 1 June to 30 May (does not include Indigenous harvesters). Source: GNWT, unpublished data.

Resident and Non-resident Fishers

The number of non-NWT residents who purchase a fishing licence each year has been slowly declining since 2000 (reaching average 5000-6000 per year in 2019), then in year 2020, the COVID-19 pandemic caused a significant drop in non-resident fishing licence purchases, from 6282 sold in 2019 to 514 due to border closures (Figure 2). The number of fishing licences issued to residents has remained stable in the last five years (Figure 2).

Figure 2: Number of fishing licences issued each year in the NWT. Source: GNWT, unpublished data.

 

Looking around

According to the Canadian Nature Survey (Ref. 12) about 8% of adult Canadians go hunting, and 21% go fishing at least once during a year (study year 2012). Hunting and fishing participation in the NWT is higher than the Canadian average. In the same study, NWT residents reported that 21% go hunting and 43% go fishing at least once during a year (study year 2012).

Hunting and fishing activities have declined in other jurisdictions (Ref. 10, 11). Studies have indicated that the main causes of these declines include increased urbanization, an aging population, and increased cost of travel and licensing. In the Canadian Nature Survey, when asked why Canadians did not go hunting or trapping, respondents also mentioned that they did not like the activity, or that they lack time or knowledge of it (Ref. 12).

 

Looking forward

In the past, a majority of hunters were Indigenous people harvesting food for subsistence. This remains the case in the NWT. The number of resident hunters and non-resident outfitted hunting had declined since the early 1990s but has now stabilized.

Fishing remains an important harvesting activity for NWT residents, both for subsistence and for recreation. Declines have been seen recently in the number of anglers visiting the NWT.

 

Find out more

Additional information can be obtained from hunting surveys conducted by the Gwich’in Renewable Resources Board and the Sahtu Renewable Resources Board as part of their work on Indigenous subsistence hunting needs under their respective land claim agreements (Ref. 15, Ref. 16).

Commercial hunting and fishing are not included in this indicator. Commercial harvesting has occurred in the past for certain species to provide meat and wildlife parts for sale and requires a specific Commercial Hunting Licence. Currently there are no species of game in the NWT that are commercially hunted. More information on commercial hunting can be obtained from ECC.

Commercial fishing is regulated in the NWT by the Department of Fisheries and Oceans and has been permitted on Great Slave Lake and in the lower Mackenzie at a smaller scale. Commercial fishing in the Canadian portion of the Beaufort Sea is banned under an agreement between the Inuvialuit and Fisheries and Oceans Canada signed on April 15, 2011. More information on commercial fishing indicators can be obtained from the Mackenzie Basin State of the Aquatic Environment report (Ref. 13).

 

References

Ref. 1.  Northwest Territories Wildlife Act. Available at: https://www.justice.gov.nt.ca/en/files/legislation/wildlife/wildlife.a.pdf

Ref. 2.  Northwest Territories Sport Fishing Regulations Guide. Available at: https://www.ecc.gov.nt.ca/sites/ecc/files/resources/sport_fishing_guide-en-web_0.pdf

Ref. 3.  Northwest Territories Fishery Regulations. Available at https://laws-lois.justice.gc.ca/eng/regulations/C.R.C.,_c._847/FullText.html

Ref. 4.  Department of Fisheries and Oceans Canada. Recreational fishing – Northwest Territories. Available at: https://www.dfo-mpo.gc.ca/fisheries-peches/recreational-recreative/arctic-arctique/index-eng.html

Ref. 5.  Government of the NWT. Current. LISIN Database. Accessed March 2021.

Ref. 6.  NWT Bureau of Statistics. Current. NWT Labour Force Surveys. Available at: http://www.statsnwt.ca/labour-income/labour-force-activity/

Ref. 7.  Receveur, O., Boulay, M., Kuhnlein, H. 1997. Decreasing Traditional Food Use Affects Diet Quality for Adult Dene/Metis in Communities of the Canadian Northwest Territories. J. Nutr. 127:2179-218

Ref. 8.  Government of the NWT Wildlife Act Phase 2 Regulations. Available at: https://www.ecc.gov.nt.ca/en/services/wildlife-act-phase-2-regulations

Ref. 9.  Government of the NWT. Hunter Education. Available at: https://www.ecc.gov.nt.ca/en/services/hunter-education

Ref. 10. Boxall P.C., D.O. Watson, and B.L. McFarlane. 2001. Some Aspects of the Anatomy of Alberta's Hunting Decline: 1990-1997. Human Dimensions of Wildlife 6:97-113.

Ref. 11. CTC Research and Evaluation. 2012. Sport Fishing and Game Hunting in Canada – An Assessment on the Potential International Tourism Opportunity. Canadian Tourism Commission. Ottawa, ON. 29pp.

Ref. 12. Federal, Provincial, and Territorial Governments of Canada. 2014. The 2012 Canadian Nature Survey: Awareness, Participation, and Expenditures in Nature-based Recreation, Conservation, and Subsistence Activities. Ottawa, ON: Canadian Councils of Resource Ministers. Available at: https://biodivcanada.chm-cbd.net/sites/ca/files/2017-12/2012_Canadian_Nature_Survey_Report%28accessible_opt%29.pdf

Ref. 13. MRBB. 2003. Mackenzie River Basin State of Aquatic Ecosystem Report. 208 pp. Available at: https://www.mrbb.ca/resources/statement-of-aquatic-ecosystems-reports-soaer/new-page

Ref. 14. NWT CIMP (NWT Cumulative Impact Monitoring Program). 2021. Assessing trends in caribou harvest. NWT Environmental Research Bulletin 7(33). Available at https://www.ecc.gov.nt.ca/sites/ecc/files/resources/128-cimp_bulletin_33_en.pdf

Ref.15. GRRB. 2009. Gwich’in Harvest Study Final Report. Gwich’in
Renewable Resource Board. Inuvik, NT, 164 pages. Available at https://grrb.nt.ca/traditional-knowledge-research/gwichin-harvest-study/

Ref. 16. SRRB. 2021. Harvest Study Completion. Available at https://www.srrb.nt.ca/research/projects/dene-mapping/harvest-study-completion

 

18.4 Trends in country food use in NWT regions

This indicator tracks the percentage of Northwest Territories (NWT) households who reported that more than 75% of the meat (mammals and birds) or fish they consumed was obtained through hunting or fishing. It also provides data on the percentage of NWT residents involved in harvesting plants and berries.

This indicator was prepared by the Government of the Northwest Territories, Department of Environment and Climate Change using information from NWT Bureau of Statistics – 2004, 2009, 2014 & 2019 NWT Community Surveys, 1999 NWT Labour Force Survey (Ref. 1), and Summary of NWT Community Statistics - 2020 (Ref. 2).

Drying fish. Credit: NWT Archives/GNWT. Dept. of PW&S/G-1995-001: 5792

NWT Focus

The most direct link between people and their environment is through harvesting for food. The NWT is rich in mammal, bird and fish populations, and a range of plants such as berries. These species have sustained Indigenous peoples in the NWT since time immemorial.

Loss of access and reduction in abundance of country food species are two of the most direct ways people would note a change in the state of their environment. People who harvest food in the NWT tend to actively monitor wildlife and plant distribution, abundance and health to support decisions on harvesting, safe consumption and long term sustainable use of these resources. Changes in the state of the environment have impacts on both the use of country food and stewardship actions.

 

NWT’s Most Common Country Foods

Mammals and Birds: Caribou, Moose, Bison, Ducks, Geese, Seals, Hare, Grouse, Ptarmigan

Fish: Lake Trout, Char, Inconnu (Coney), Whitefish, Pike, Burbot

Berries: Blueberries, Cranberries, Blackberries, Cloudberries

 

Current View: status and trend

As of 2018, 12.6% of NWT residents rely on country food for most (at least 75%) of their meat and fish consumption, compared to 21.5% in 1998. This percentage is lower in Yellowknife (Figure 1).

Figure 1. Households where 75% or more of the meat or fish eaten in the household was obtained through hunting or fishing. Date source: ECC.

 

Looking forward

Consumption of country food tends to be lower in larger centers compared to smaller communities. Residents in medium and large-sized communities have greater access to imported and store-bought foods that are more likely to have been imported into the NWT.

However, many NWT residents still have a significant reliance on country food as a daily source of food and essential nutrients (Ref. 3, Ref. 4). Considering the relatively lower quality and high cost of store-bought food available in most small communities in the North (Ref. 5), country foods and the environment that sustains them are essential to the health of NWT’s residents (Ref. 4, Ref. 6). Climate change is predicted to have an impact on the ability of NWT residents to access country food, given potential changes to animal behavior and weather patterns and associated animal behaviour (Ref. 6), and potential impacts on access with changing environmental conditions.

 

Looking around

It is difficult to compare country food use between NWT residents and others in Canada.   National food consumption information surveys do not collect data in the Territories (in Ref. 7). A study specifically providing this information was conducted in 2014-2015. Results show that the percentage of respondents who reported eating at least one portion of country food during the survey week was 60.7% in the NWT, compared to 66.4% in the Yukon, and 77.5% in Nunavut (Ref. 7).  Note that both survey questions in this study are different than in the NWT studies mentioned above, so the percentages can be compared only within each study. 

 

Find out more

For more information on the health and country food research and their links to the environment go to McGill University’s Centre for Indigenous People’s Nutrition and Environment at: https://www.mcgill.ca/cine/

For nutritional information on traditional foods in the NWT, please visit NWT Health and Social Services’ web site at: https://www.hss.gov.nt.ca/en/services/nutritional-food-fact-sheet-series

For more information on NWT’s Social Indicators go to NWT Stats at: https://www.statsnwt.ca/

 

Reference List

Ref. 1.  NWT Bureau of Statistics. 2004, 2009, 2014 & 2019 NWT Community Surveys, 1999 NWT Labour Force Survey.

Ref. 2.  NWT Bureau of Statistics. 2020. Summary of NWT Community Statistics.

Ref. 3.  Kuhnlein H.V., O. Receveur, R. Soueida, and G.M. Egeland. 2004. Arctic Indigenous Peoples Experience the Nutrition Transition with Changing Dietary Patterns and Obesity. J. Nutr. 134:1447-1453.

Ref. 4.  Kuhnlein H.V.and O. Receveur. 2007. Local Cultural Animal Food Contributes High Levels of Nutrients for Arctic Canadian Indigenous Adults and Children. J. Nutr. 137:1110-1114.

Ref. 5.  Receveur O., M. Boulay, H.V. Kuhnlein. 1997. Decreasing Traditional Food Use Affects Diet Quality for Adult Dene/Metis in 16 Communities of the Canadian Northwest Territories. J. Nutr. 127:2179-2186.

Ref. 6.  Furgal C. and S. Jacinthe. 2012. Climate Change, Health, and Vulnerability in Canadian Northern Aboriginal Communities. Environmental Health Perspectives 114:1964-1970.

Ref. 7. Morton V, Manore A, Ciampa N, Glass-Kaastra S, Hurst M, Mullen A, Cutler J. 2021. Country food
consumption in Yukon, Northwest Territories and Nunavut, Foodbook study 2014–2015. Can Commun Dis Rep  47(1):30–6. Available at https://www.canada.ca/en/public-health/services/reports-publications/canada-communicable-disease-report-ccdr/monthly-issue/2021-47/issue-1-january-2021/summary-foodbook-study-included-northern-canada-2014-2015.html

 

18.5 Trends in eco-tourism

This indicator tracks the total estimated number of visitors coming to the NWT each year and their travel intentions and behaviours, including spending while in the NWT.

Dog sledding and adventure tourism in the NWT - L Schofield with permission.

This indicator was prepared by the Government of the Northwest Territories, Department of Industry, Tourism and Investment using information from Airport Exit Surveys, air passenger volume data, fishing and hunting licences, NWT parks overnight camping permits, the Visitor Exit Survey (2014), and Road Trip Surveys.

 

NWT Focus

Many visitors come to the NWT to experience its natural environment or to enjoy experiences that can only be enjoyed in outdoor settings such as fishing, hunting, viewing the Aurora or Northern lights, cultural and on the land activities, and general touring. Important considerations for visitors who come to the NWT are the NWT’s outstanding scenery, wildlife, parks, and wilderness areas (Ref. 1).

Tracking the number of visitors to the NWT and the number that participate in outdoor activities can provide information to help service providers know whether recreational areas and facilities are adequate and can also help service providers safeguard the environment from unintentional degradation.

 

Current View: status and trend

In terms of overall trends in leisure visitor volumes and visitor spending in the NWT, there was generally steady growth from 2011-12 to 2018-19 (Figure 1). From 2014-15 to 2018-19 (5-year period), the growth in leisure visitors was 58% and in spending by leisure visitors 74%. In 2018-19, there were an estimated 87,530 visitors travelling for leisure to the NWT who spent approximately $131 million dollars in the territory.

This growth trend was interrupted in 2019-20 with a 3% decline in both the number of leisure visitors and spending, driven by the COVID-19 pandemic in early 2020. With the travel restrictions under the Public Health Emergency, all leisure travel ceased in 2020-21 and in 2021-22, a decline of -100%.

 

18.6 Trend in number of visitors to Protected Areas and Parks in the NWT

Visiting Thaidene Nëné Credit: Alietum Ltd, reproduced with permission.

This indicator was prepared by the Government of the Northwest Territories, Department of Industry, Tourism and Investment, using visitor data to Territorial Parks (Recreation Parks only) collected by the GNWT (Ref. 2). Data on National Parks are provided by Parks Canada (Ref. 3).

ECC does not yet collect visitor information for territorial protected areas

 

NWT Focus

Nature and the environment contribute significantly to the quality of life of individual Canadians. According to the 2012 Canadian Nature Survey (Ref. 1), 67% of NWT residents stated that they chose to live in the NWT partly to have access to nature, which is one of the highest levels recorded in Canada.

Outdoor activities are important to NWT residents and visitors alike (Ref. 1). In addition to providing fresh air and clean water, the environment provides opportunities for people to enjoy spending time in nature and doing nature-oriented activities. While many outdoor activities take place outside of established parks, the use of territorial and national parks provides a measure of the value of these NWT natural areas to residents and visitors to the NWT.

Parks are a venue where non-consumptive use is available and may be tracked. Some parks are designated to protect representative landscapes and the features and wildlife they contain, while other parks provide places where people can spend time in a natural environment.

 

Current View: status and trend

Territorial Parks

Territorial Parks are divided into four categories: Heritage Parks, Natural Environment Parks, Recreational Parks, and Wayside Parks. The Heritage Park located in Fort Smith protects a historical mission building. Natural Environment Parks preserve and protect unique, representative, or aesthetically significant natural areas. Recreation Parks encourage an appreciation for the natural environment or provide recreational activities and include campgrounds. Wayside Parks provide for the enjoyment or convenience of the travelling public.

Data provided in this report for Territorial Parks consist of Recreation Parks only and are based on campground permits from the Department of Industry, Tourism and Investment, GNWT (Ref. 2).

The number of overnight visitors to the Territorial Parks (Recreation Parks) was fairly steady from 2010 to 2014 and then grew to 2018 mostly driven by increases in the Beaufort Delta (Inuvik) region in 2018 and 2019 with the opening of the Inuvik-to-Tuk Highway in November 2017. The number of visitors to the Territorial Parks dropped significantly in 2020 due to travel restrictions related to the COVID-19 pandemic (Figure 1).

Figure 1: Number of overnight visitors to Territorial Parks (Recreation Parks), 2010-2020 (Ref. 2).

 

The vast majority of visitors to the Territorial Parks are Canadians. From 2010 to 2019, approximately 42% of overnight visitors to Territorial Parks were NWT residents and 44% were Canadians from other provinces and territories; only about 7% of visitors came from the United States and another 7% came from other countries (international).

Figure 2: Origin of Overnight Visitors to Territorial Parks (Recreation Parks), 2010-2020 (Ref. 2).

 

Differences in the number of visitors to each ecozone partly reflect the area’s population and the number and accessibility of the Territorial Parks. There are three territorial campgrounds and nine day use areas in the Taiga Shield ecozone (North Slave region); 10 campgrounds and seven day use areas in the Taiga Plains South ecozone (South Slave and Dehcho regions); and four campgrounds and one day use area in the Taiga Plains North ecozone (Beaufort Delta or Inuvik region).

Figure 3: Number of overnight visitors to Territorial Parks (Recreation Parks) by Ecozone, 2010-2020 (Ref. 2).

 

The greatest number of visitors in the Territorial Parks are in the Taiga Shield (North Slave region) mostly driven by the area’s resident population and accessibility. The number of overnight visitors to the Territorial Parks (Recreation Parks) in all the ecozones was fairly steady from 2010 to 2014. Overnight visitors parks in the Taiga Plains South and Taiga Shield grew in 2017 and then experienced declines from 2018 to 2020. In the Taiga Plains North, there was strong growth in visitors in 2018 and 2019, primarily driven by the new Inuvik-to-Tuk Highway which opened in November 2017.

 

National Parks

Nahanni National Park Reserve (Ref 3) is located in the Taiga Cordillera Ecozone in the Dehcho region. Extablised in 1976, designated a UNESCO World Heritage site in 1978, it was was expanded in 2010 to its current size. Park staff have looked at various trends that might impact the number of visitors to Nahanni National Park Reserve, such as fuel costs and the monetary exchange rate, but no distinct links with the pattern of visitation (for example, slightly more visits in the early 1990s) have been evident. Overall, the number of visitors has remained relatively constant from one year to the next (Figure 4).

Figure 4. Trend in number of visitors to Nahanni National Park Reserve, 1984-85 to 2019-20. Data from Ref. 3.

 

Aulavik National Park (Aulavik means “place where people travel”) is located in the Southern Arctic Ecozone. The main reason people visit Aulavik National Park is to canoe the Thomsen River. Tuktut Nogait National Park (The name means “young caribou”) is located in the Northern Arctic Ecozone. Tuktut Nogait visitors include hikers as well as people canoeing or kayaking the Hornaday River. Visitor numbers to these parks in the far north are very low, and any variation causes a large change in relative visitation (Figure 5).

Figure 5. Trend in number of registered visitors to NWT National Parks in Southern and Northern Arctic, 1994-95 to 2019-20. Data from Ref. 3

 

Wood Buffalo National Park is located in the Taiga Plains Ecozone. It was established in 1922 and became a World Heritage Site in 1983. Wood Buffalo National Park is Canada’s largest national park, extending south of the NWT into Alberta. It protects the only known nesting site of the endangered whooping crane, other rare species, the Peace-Athabasca Delta and vast expanses of boreal wilderness. Visitors come to experience these and its many other unique cultural and natural features (Figure 6).

Figure 6. Trend in number of visitors to Wood Buffalo National Park, 1984-5 to 2019-20. Data from Ref. 3.

 

Nááts'ihch'oh National Park Reserve is located in the Taiga Cordillera Ecozone at the headwaters of the Tehjeh Deé (South Nahanni River). It was established in 2014. Nááts'įhch'oh is the traditional homeland of the Shúhtaot’ine (Mountain Dene) and continues to hold cultural importance and provide hunting grounds for the Shúhtaot’ine10. Visitors to the park include outdoor enthusiasts on canoe trips and hiking adventures. Reporting of visitors did not begin until the 2019-20 season with 118 visitors (Ref. 3).

 

Thaidene Nëné (Name means “Land of the Ancestors”) is located in the Taiga Shield ecozone, a majority was established in 2019. Thaidene Nëné is an Indigenous Protected Area, a National Park Reserve, the first Territorial Protected Area under the Protected Areas Act of the NWT and a Wildlife Conservation Area under the NWT Wildlife Act. Ts’udé Nilįné Tuyeta Indigenous and Territorial Protected Area under the Protected Areas Act was established in 2022 and is in the Taiga Shield ecozone. Currently there are no visitation numbers to report for Thaidene Nëné or Ts’udé Nilįné Tuyeta.

 

Looking forward

Given the COVID-19 pandemic and its aftermath, anticipated visitation rates to parks in the NWT over the next several years are uncertain but the NWT has opened to tourism again in 2022. There are efforts now focused on recovery and rebuilding tourism in the NWT and welcoming back visitors from other parts of Canada and internationally. The pandemic is expected to have long-lasting impact on visitor intentions and behaviours. In a recent survey conducted by Destination Canada nationwide, four out of the top 5 activities that Canadians were looking to do while travelling included: hiking or walking in nature; natural attractions like mountains or waterfalls; nature parks; and viewing wildlife or marine life (Ref. 4). This bodes well for the NWT given its abundance of natural attractions, outstanding scenery, and unique wildlife.

 

Find out more

For more Information on tourism in the NWT go to: www.iti.gov.nt.ca/en/tourism-research

More information on the NWT’s National Parks can be found at:

www.pc.gc.ca/pn-np/nt/tuktutnogait/index_e.asp

www.pc.gc.ca/pn-np/nt/aulavik/index_E.asp

www.pc.gc.ca/pn-np/nt/woodbuffalo/index_e.asp

www.pc.gc.ca/pn-np/nt/nahanni/index_e.asp

www.pc.gc.ca/en/pn-np/nt/naatsihchoh

www.pc.gc.ca/en/pn-np/nt/thaidene-nene

 

Other focal points

See Protected Areas and Land Use Planning for more information related to land conservation.

 

References

Ref. 1.  Federal, Provincial, and Territorial Governments of Canada. 2014. The 2012 Canadian Nature Survey. Ottawa, ON: Environment Canada Available at http://publications.gc.ca/site/eng/9.698872/publication.html

Ref. 2.  NWT Parks Campground Permits, Department of Industry, Tourism and Investment, Government of the Northwest Territories. Reports on NWT Parks. Available at: https://www.iti.gov.nt.ca/en/tourism-research

Ref. 3. Parks Canada, 2020. Pers. Comm.

Ref. 4. Destination Canada. 2020. 2020 Global Tourism Watch Research, Total Canada Survey.