Edéhzhíe Protected Area facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Edéhzhíe Protected Area |
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 Edéhzhíe Protected Area
Location in Canada
Edéhzhíe Protected Area
Location in Northwest Territories
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| Location | Northwest Territories, Canada |
| Nearest city | Dehcho Region |
| Area | 14,218 km2 (5,490 sq mi) |
| Established | 21 August 2018 |
| Governing body | Dehcho First Nations, Environment and Climate Change Canada |
The Edéhzhíe Protected Area is a special place in the Northwest Territories, Canada. Its name, "Edéhzhíe," comes from the Dene language and means source waters. This area was officially protected in 2018.
It covers a huge area of 14,218 square kilometers (about 5,490 square miles). This makes it a very important home for many plants and animals. Edéhzhíe has many lakes, wetlands, and boreal forests.
This protected area is very important to the Dehcho and Tłįchǫ Dene peoples. They have used this land for a long time. It has traditional trails and places for hunting, fishing, and trapping. Many rivers in the Dehcho area start here. These include the Willowlake, Horn, and Rabbitskin Rivers.
Amazing Wildlife
Edéhzhíe is home to many different animals. Some of these animals are considered threatened or species at risk. This means their populations are getting smaller.
Animals found here include the boreal woodland caribou, wood bison, and wolverine. You can also find special birds like the peregrine falcon, short-eared owl, and olive-sided flycatcher.
One of the lakes in Edéhzhíe is called Mills Lake. It is a very important stop for birds during their long migrations. Each year, as many as 50,000 lesser snow geese and 5,000 tundra swan visit this lake.
Protecting the Land
The Edéhzhíe Protected Area is looked after by different groups. The Dehcho First Nations have a program called Dehcho K’éhodi. This means taking care of the Dehcho in the Dene language.
People from this program are called "on-the-land guardians." They help monitor and manage the protected area. They work with the Edéhzhíe Management Board and the Canadian Wildlife Service.
How Edéhzhíe Became Protected
The idea to protect Edéhzhíe started a long time ago. The Dehcho First Nations began working on this in 1998. They wanted to make sure this special land would be safe forever.
In 2002, Edéhzhíe was named a Candidate Protected Area. This meant it was protected from new land uses. This was an important step.
Over the years, many groups worked together. These included the Dehcho First Nations, the Tłįchǫ Government, and the governments of the Northwest Territories and Canada. They discussed how to best protect the area.
There were some challenges along the way. At one point, there were concerns about mining in the area. The Dehcho First Nations went to court to keep the land protected. In 2011, the government agreed to protect a large part of the area again.
Finally, in 2018, a big agreement was signed. The Dehcho First Nations and Environment and Climate Change Canada signed the Edéhzhíe Agreement. This officially made Edéhzhíe an Indigenous Protected Area. It also became a National Wildlife Area under the Canada Wildlife Act.
In 2020, the Government of the Northwest Territories also agreed to protect the land from mining forever. Work is still ongoing to fully establish Edéhzhíe as a National Wildlife Area.
