The Narwhal https://thenarwhal.ca Deep Dives, Cold Facts, & Pointed Commentary en-US Copyright 2026 The Narwhal hourly 1 Yukon First Nations say approving mineral exploration without a land use plan violates their rights https://thenarwhal.ca/yukon-first-nations-mineral-use-plan-antimony-creek/ Mon, 01 Mar 2021 18:49:12 +0000 https://thenarwhal.ca/?p=26391 Proposed Antimony Creek quartz exploration project would be on Tr’ondëk Hwëch’in First Nation and First Nation of Na-Cho Nyäk Dun territories, including culturally important areas Julien Gignac News Indigenous mining yukon aerial view of Klondike Valley mountain range in Tombstone Territorial park Indigenous people had some of the highest rates of ER visits during 2014 Yellowknife wildfires: study https://thenarwhal.ca/yellowknife-wildfire-2014-indigenous-er-rate/ Tue, 23 Feb 2021 23:20:01 +0000 https://thenarwhal.ca/?p=26237 Researchers suggest lack of access to care, inadequate housing and systemic racism may have played a role in health outcomes in Inuit and Dene communities during record-breaking wildfire season Julien Gignac News Indigenous Northwest Territories Wildfire Photo: Evan Wise / Unsplash silhouettes of trees against orange sky Massive increase in Nunavut mine shipping traffic puts narwhals at risk: study https://thenarwhal.ca/massive-increase-in-nunavut-mine-shipping-traffic-puts-narwhals-at-risk-study/ Fri, 19 Feb 2021 16:13:34 +0000 https://thenarwhal.ca/?p=26129 As Mary River Mine proposes doubling vessel traffic — which has already increased nearly sixfold since 2015 — scientists raise concerns that the noise could affect the whales’ ability to communicate and navigate Julien Gignac News mining Nunavut wildlife aerial view of narwhal blessing How the Kudz Ze Kayah mine is stoking tensions between Canada, Yukon and First Nations https://thenarwhal.ca/yukon-kudz-ze-kayah-mine-reassessment-indigenous-rights/ Thu, 11 Feb 2021 23:59:51 +0000 https://thenarwhal.ca/?p=25994 Ottawa has ordered Yukon to reassess the impacts of a proposed mine on caribou and First Nations Rights, a move Premier Sandy Silver says undercuts the territory’s authority: ‘local decisions should be made by local governments' Julien Gignac In-Depth caribou environmental law Indigenous mining wildlife yukon Northwest Territories fined $10,000 for destroying nests of at-risk bank swallows https://thenarwhal.ca/northwest-territories-fined-bank-swallows/ Wed, 10 Feb 2021 15:00:05 +0000 https://thenarwhal.ca/?p=25946 The government pleaded guilty to one charge under Canada’s Species at Risk Act Julien Gignac News Endangered Species Northwest Territories wildlife Colony of swallows, Sand Martin breeding, riparia riparia Yukon pushed to develop protections for irreplaceable wetlands threatened by mining https://thenarwhal.ca/yukon-wetlands-mining-protections-urged/ Wed, 03 Feb 2021 00:22:25 +0000 https://thenarwhal.ca/?p=25770 Some of the territory’s permafrost bogs, fens and peatlands have developed over thousands of years and yet there are currently no policies to prevent the destruction of these unique ecosystems Julien Gignac In-Depth News Indigenous mining protected areas water wetlands yukon aerial view of placer mines Curing the ‘colonial hangover’: how Yukon First Nations became trailblazers of Indigenous governance https://thenarwhal.ca/yukon-first-nations-indigenous-rights-explainer/ Sat, 30 Jan 2021 16:00:04 +0000 https://thenarwhal.ca/?p=25694 With modern treaties focused on nationhood and land rights, First Nations’ evolving practice of self-governance in the territory may be pointing the way forward for other Canadian jurisdictions Julien Gignac Explainer Indigenous yukon James Itsi hangs chum salmon for smoking in a shed Independent panel contends Yukoners, First Nations aren’t benefiting enough from mining royalties https://thenarwhal.ca/yukon-mining-royalties-panel-review/ Tue, 26 Jan 2021 18:37:43 +0000 https://thenarwhal.ca/?p=25642 While the underground minerals in Yukon are owned by the public, a review of the royalties collected from placer and quartz mining operations over the past decade shows industry is predominantly cashing in on their development Julien Gignac In-Depth News Indigenous mining royalties water yukon An aerial view of placer mining along the Indian River in Yukon Panel recommends Yukon bring mining into the 21st century. Here’s what you need to know https://thenarwhal.ca/yukon-mining-laws-79-recommendations/ Wed, 20 Jan 2021 17:21:16 +0000 https://thenarwhal.ca/?p=25444 After years of public consultation and hearings, an independent panel says modernizing mineral development rules in the territory will better respect Indigenous Rights and the land — and ensure all Yukoners benefit from the use of natural resources Julien Gignac Explainer News environmental law Indigenous mining water yukon Placer mines along the Indian River, near Sulphur Creek The delicate art of stabilizing Yukon’s Fortymile caribou herd https://thenarwhal.ca/yukon-stabilizing-fortymile-caribou-herd/ Thu, 17 Dec 2020 23:35:18 +0000 https://thenarwhal.ca/?p=24886 Once considered to be in dire straits, the population is now on the rebound, demonstrating the herd’s incredible sensitivity to human activity and management Julien Gignac In-Depth caribou Indigenous wildlife yukon Fortymile Caribou Herd Scotiabank becomes fifth major Canadian bank to refuse to fund oil drilling in Arctic refuge https://thenarwhal.ca/scotiabank-oil-drilling-arctic-national-wildlife-refuge/ Mon, 14 Dec 2020 23:15:30 +0000 https://thenarwhal.ca/?p=24779 ‘I think the financial institutions have sent a very large signal to the rest of the world,’ says Vuntut Gwitchin Chief Julien Gignac News alaska Arctic National Wildlife Refuge banks caribou Indigenous Scotiabank yukon Caribou standing near water with mountains in background