Nunatukavut Announces Signing of a Shared Understanding Agreement with Parks Canada on Mealy Mountains National Park Reserve

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

NUNATUKAVUT ANNOUNCES SIGNING OF A SHARED UNDERSTANDING AGREEMENT WITH PARKS CANADA ON MEALY MOUNTAINS NATIONAL PARK RESERVE

(Labrador, September 22, 2015) – The NunatuKavut Community Council (NCC) is today celebrating the signing of an exciting Shared Understanding Agreement with Parks Canada. The agreement provides a framework for consultation, cooperative management and planning on the Mealy Mountains National Park Reserve.

“We are extremely pleased about our partnership with Parks Canada on this momentous agreement,” said Todd Russell, President of the NCC. “It ensures that our people will be able to continue using the park for traditional activities like fishing, hunting and trapping, as they have for generations, and will provide an economic boost in the region through tourism.”

In a July 31, 2015 news release, Parks Canada stated that “the national park reserve in the Mealy Mountains of Labrador will protect a nationally significant example of the East Coast Boreal Natural Region. This new national park reserve will provide unique Aboriginal cultural experiences and outdoor recreation activities such as canoeing, backcountry camping, and hiking.”

The Shared Understanding Agreement clearly outlines terms around management participation, traditional activities, cultural resources and economic opportunities, employment and training. This includes the formation of a consensus board comprised of representatives from both the NCC and Parks Canada.

A $700,000 contribution agreement between NCC and Parks Canada was also signed to maximize the many opportunities associated with the park. One of the regions getting ready to take advantage of the Park includes the southern Inuit community of Cartwright, one of the three park gateway communities.

“The recent signing of the Shared Understanding Document presents an exciting time for the Town of Cartwright,” said Dwight Lethbridge, Mayor of Cartwright. “We have long been encouraging the establishment of the Mealy Mountains National Park and expect a very positive economic impact on our community. We know tourism is a slow growth and very sustainable industry. With NunatuKavut and Parks Canada fostering that growth I am confident that Cartwright will see the economic benefit, and members of NunatuKavut will have unprecedented opportunities to start or grow businesses, or gain employment related to the park.”

The contribution agreement commits to activities around tourism development, capacity building for employment and entrepreneurs and cultural and heritage resource development.

“The NCC will work with our people to tell the story of NunatuKavut,” said President Russell. “We know visitors will be in awe of the natural beauty of our territory but we also want them to lean about our rich history and culture.”

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For further information, please contact:

Kelly Nippard, Director of Communications, NCC, 709-280-5965