No to Back River as Canadian heritage river: Kivalliq Inuit org

Nunavut wants to see Ukkusiksalik Kuunga, known as the Back River in English, which runs through the Kivalliq region, become Nunavut’s next nominee to Canadian Heritage River System. (FILE PHOTO)

The Kivalliq Inuit Association has told the Government of Nunavut on two separate occasions that it doesn’t want the Back River to be nominated as a Canadian Heritage River.

The KIA has spent “a considerable amount of time and financial resources studying the area and notes that it has significant economic potential,” KIA president David Ningeongan told the GN in a recent letter.

Nunavut’s culture and language minister, James Arreak, said last autumn that the GN wants to see the Ukkusiksalik Kuunga, known as the Back River in English, added to the Canadian Heritage River System.

Baker Lake MLA Moses Aupaluktuq said he welcomed the nomination as a future Canadian Heritage River for Ukkusiksalik Kuunga, which lies close to his community..

Other Canadian Heritage Rivers in Nunavut include Harvaqtuuq (Kazan River), the Kanajuup Kuungat (Thelon River) and the Kuujjuak (Soper River.)

The Coppermine River has also been nominated to the Canadian Heritage River System for its natural heritage, cultural heritage, and recreational values.

The Canadian Heritage Rivers System was established in 1984 by federal, provincial and territorial governments “to conserve rivers with outstanding natural, cultural and recreational heritage, to give them national recognition, and to encourage the public to enjoy and appreciate them.”

Today, there are 42 Canadian Heritage Rivers (37 designated, with another five nominated) across Canada, says the Canadian Heritage Rivers System website.

All protective actions on Canadian Heritage Rivers respect the rights of aboriginal peoples, communities, private landowners, and other stakeholders, it says.

And governments retain their jurisdictional powers and management responsibilities throughout the nomination and designation process.