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 "The land is so important to us it is just like sacred or holy ground." - John Charles McDonald, Elder |
| Values and Vision - Our Traditional Lands Poplar/Nanowin Rivers Park Reserve - First Nation MOU - Lands Chronology Protected Areas Accord World Heritage Site Lands Management Plan - Download Plan - Technical Work - Map Gallery - Further Research Poplar River Today - Goldman Award - Current Programs - Photo Gallery - News - Letters & Releases - Links Poplar River, Manitoba
R0B 0Z0 P:204-244-2267 F:204-244-2690  "There are communities like ourselves all over the country who have long looked after lands not as owners, but as caretakers of this great land. This is how we were taught as Native people; land is not something you own, land is a gift that you use, to live on it, to protect it and look after it. That principle was used by our people and continues to be used today." -Poplar River community member  "The Poplar/Nanowin River Park Reserve is an area that is a portion of the 4th largest piece of territory in the world that is untouched and untampered. It has a natural ecosystem that is the foundation of health and strength in our community. It is a model that we can all learn from to understand why protection is necessary." -Poplar River community member 
"Life is about healing and nurturing your body, your spirit. Without the life we receive from the air, the trees, the water, and animals, we will not survive. Let us do all we can to help keep the natural forests that we have to sustain us." -Poplar River community member  |
World Heritage Site To further the Protected Areas Accord First Nations' goal of a United Nations World Heritage Site (WHS), a WHS Working Group has been formed among the First Nations. Conservation organizations in Manitoba and Ontario are providing assistance and joint technical work in support of the Accord First Nations' vision for the protection of these boreal forest traditional lands. A proposal has been submitted to IUCN (World Conservation Union), the official technical advisory body to the World Heritage Committee of the United Nations for consideration of these traditional territories for World Heritage Site status. The governments of Manitoba and Ontario both contributed to the first technical report regarding the WHS nomination.During 2005 & 2006 the Accord First Nations have continued to meet regarding their joint vision to protect adjoining traditional lands. A WHS Assembly for the parties to the nomination meets quarterly, with its working group meeting regularly to prepare the actual WHS nomination package. The working group includes representatives of each government: Ontario, Manitoba, Canada, and the five First Nations governments.
Government & International SupportCanada's Minister of the Environment released an updated list of tentative World Heritage Sites for Canada in spring 2005. The Atikaki/Woodland Caribou/Accord First Nations - Manitoba and Ontario nomination was included.View the Environment Canada press release View the Tentative List for World Heritage Sites 
In November 2004, members of Poplar River First Nation traveled to the 3rd IUCN World Conservation Congress (WCC) in Bangkok, Thailand, and participated in negotiations and meetings to arrive at final wording for a Boreal conservation recommendation that went before the WCC Assembly. The Boreal conservation recommendation was accepted by the WCC and specifically mentions the Atikaki/Woodland Caribou/Accord First Nations - Manitoba and Ontario nomination, calling on the Canadian government to recognize, preserve and protect ecological processes and sites such as the WHS nomination that sustain the overall health of boreal forest regions. Download the WCC Recommendation CGR3.REC021 - Conservation of Canada's Boreal Forest (DOC) Here in Manitoba, the November 2004 East Side Planning Initiative report "Promises to Keep Towards a Broad Area Plan for the East Side of Lake Winnipeg - A Status Report" included a recommendation supporting the First Nations WHS proposal. Recommendation 5.3.2 (pg. 49) of the report states "The Government of Manitoba plays an active role with the federal government in establishing a UNESCO (U.N.) World Natural & Cultural Heritage Site on the east side. The site should include the land area encompassed in the application by the five First Nations signatory to the protected areas Accord, and Atikaki and Woodland Caribou Provincial Parks." View more information on the WHS nomination View the November 2004 East Side Planning Initiative Report 
December 3, 2004 Manitoba's Premier, Gary Doer, and Conservation Minister, Stan Struthers publicly stated their support for the future World Heritage Site. Several other commitments have been made since then. Download a listing of Manitoba government commitments for this WHS (PDF) Updated |
Contact Ray Rabliauskas, Lands Management Coordinator
Poplar River, Manitoba, Canada R0B 0Z0 Ph: 204-244-2267 Fax: 204-244-2690
E-mail: info@PoplarRiverFirstNation.ca or the webmaster@PoplarRiverFirstNation.ca
Poplar River, Manitoba, Canada R0B 0Z0 Ph: 204-244-2267 Fax: 204-244-2690
E-mail: info@PoplarRiverFirstNation.ca or the webmaster@PoplarRiverFirstNation.ca
© Copyright Poplar River First Nation 2004-2009