Thaıdene Nëné Badı Xá (Watching Over Thaıdene Nëné) is the first plan for Thaıdene Nëné. It asks and answers the questions: How do we want things to be in the future? And how do we get there?
Zoning is one of the tools we use to ensure ecological integrity and cultural continuity within Thaıdene Nëné. Zoning is grounded in our ancestral responsibilities to care for Tsąkuı Thedá and Thaıdene Nëné. Zoning encourages respectful relationships with the land and protects areas that are culturally important and ecologically sensitive.
Zoning does not impact Aboriginal or treaty rights. Zoning only applies to visitors to Thaıdene Nëné. Indigenous people exercising section 35 Aboriginal or treaty rights are not visitors.
The zoning framework recognizes three types of areas within Thaıdene Nëné:
Areas where visitors have opportunities to experience nature and culture through outdoor recreation activities requiring minimal services or facilities of a rustic nature. (Zone III)
Areas where visitors have opportunities to experience the living landscape in remote areas with few to no services or facilities. (Zone II)
Areas that contain unique, threatened, or endangered natural or cultural features. (Zone I)
Zone III This zone includes the waters of Tu Nedhé (Great Slave Lake) and Tthe Kálįka Tué (Stark Lake) that are within Thaıdene Nëné, as well as the fly-in lakes and rivers in the territorial protected area (light blue areas on the map). On Tu Nedhé and Tthe Kálįka Tué, motorized boating is a key form of access and recreation. Visitors using motorized boats on any Zone III water can access Zone II shoreline with their boats. Snowmobiling is allowed in Zone III.
Zone II The majority of Thaıdene Nëné (78 percent) is identified as Zone II. These are the green and darker blue areas on the map. Snowmobiling is allowed in Zone II. Fly-in lakes in the national park reserve are Zone II, and motorized boating is allowed with a permit. Some lakes are restricted to electric motors.
Zone I A very small proportion (0.03%) of Thaıdene Nëné is protected as Zone I. For comparison, 10% of Banff National Park and 0.4% of Jasper National Park are protected as Zone I. Visitors can access some Zone I areas, if they are accompanied. Other Zone I areas are off limits.
Visitors can visit the following Zone I locations if they are with licensed guides or LKDFN or Parks Canada staff:
Mouth of Tsąkuı Thedá Dezé (Lockhart River)
Taché/Kaché Village Site
Ɂedacho Tł’ázı̨ (Timber Bay) Village Site
Visitors cannot visit the following locations:
Desnéthcheé (Spiritual Gathering Site)
Dzén Kı́n (Rat Lodge) and Tsá Kı́n (Beaver Lodge) on Ɂedacho Tué (Artillery Lake)
Island in Ɂedacho Tł’ázı̨ (Timber Bay)
Tsąkuı Thedá Dezé (Lockhart River) River corridor and islands
Tsąkuı Thedá (Parry Falls) is a sacred site. A site-specific plan will be developed to provide guidance on visitor access. Thank you for respecting the zoning framework for Thaıdene Nëné and helping us to ensure healthy land, water, wildlife, and way of life now and for future generations.
