The Pickhandle Lakes lies in the Traditional Territories of the Kluane First Nation and White River First Nation. The area is a diverse complex of small lakes, pothole lakes, marshes and bogs with the Koidern River meandering through it. The Kluane First Nation identified this area for protection in its Land Claim Final Agreement because of its high cultural and ecosystem values. The Government of Yukon will protect this land by designating it a Habitat Protection Area (HPA) under the Wildlife Act. Designation will help conserve habitat, encourage public appreciation and maintain traditional and current uses of the area. The Government of Yukon is working with the Kluane First Nation and the White River First Nation to complete a Management Plan, which will guide future use of the area. Use this website to learn about the HPA and how you can contribute to the HPA Management Plan.
The Goals of the HPA Management Plan:
Keeping people connected
Pickhandle Lakes has been a gathering place for First Nations people for thousands of years. The HPA Management Plan will protect traditional and current uses of the area. |
ensuring conservation of wetlands
Pickhandle Lakes is a wetland complex made up of small pothole lakes, marshes and bogs fed by the Koidern River. The HPA Management Plan will protect and promote the health of these diverse ecosystems. |
Protecting a place for waterfowl and wildlifePickhandle Lakes is in an important bird migration corridor with high habitat values for waterfowl. Other wildlife common in the HPA include moose, muskrat, and wood frogs. The HPA Management Plan includes recommendations for maintaining healthy wildlife populations within the HPA. |
Steering Committee
The Pickhandle Lakes Habitat Protection Area Steering Committee was established in December 2010. The four-member committee has representatives from the Kluane First Nation, White River First Nation and the Government of Yukon. The Steering Committee is developing the Management Plan, which will be consistent with the objectives set out in the KFN Final Agreement Chapter 10, Schedule C, 1.0:
-Conserve fish and wildlife habitat
-Maintain diversity of fish and wildlife populations
-Increase public awareness about the importance of the area for fish and wildlife
-Recognize and protect traditional and current use of the area, and
-Encourage public awareness and enjoyment of the area
-Maintain diversity of fish and wildlife populations
-Increase public awareness about the importance of the area for fish and wildlife
-Recognize and protect traditional and current use of the area, and
-Encourage public awareness and enjoyment of the area
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“the area has been used extensively by previous generations as a camping area and for travelling through the region by way of overland trails. " -WRFN Pickhandle Lakes Knowledge, Use, and Management |
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Meet the Partners
Kluane First Nation, White River First Nation, and Government of Yukon are jointly developing a management plan for the HPA
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Meet the members
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Timeline
Dec 2010: Steering Committee established
Jan 2011 - Oct 2012: Information collected through public meetings Oct 2012: WRFN requests for the process to be put on hold due to engagement concerns 2015: Steering committee re-engages 2015 - 2017: Information gathering and plan drafting 2018 - 2023: Draft Plan reviewed by Steering Committee Nov 2023 -Jan 2024: Community/ public feedback on the draft plan |