Protecting the Peel Watershed: Indigenous rights, conservation and the law

This thought-provoking panel discussion will bring together legendary Indigenous rights lawyer, Thomas Berger, along with First Nations and environmental leaders from the Yukon to talk about the landmark Peel Watershed case. In the 1970s, the Mackenzie Valley Pipeline Inquiry was a precedent-setting process for listening to the social and environmental concerns of First Nations regarding resource development when Justice Berger travelled throughout the Yukon and Northwest Territories for community hearings. Forty years later, the Supreme Court is set to hear the Peel case, a present-day example of a contentious land-use planning process for one of Canada’s largest intact wilderness areas. This panel discussion will share insights from the Peel case and the efforts of Yukon First Nations and conservation groups to uphold the modern-day treaties and protect the Peel from widespread resource development.

Moderated by Frances Abele, Professor in Aboriginal-Canada Relations in the School of Public Policy and Administration

Panellists:

Thomas Berger
Dana Tizya-Tramm, Councilor with Vuntut Gwitchin First Nation
Roberta Joseph, Chief of Tr’ondek Hwech’in
Christina Macdonald, Yukon Conservation Society

Reception to follow.

This event is part of FPA Research Month.

Please register here