The Kaska Dena

The Kaska Dena have lived in their territory for tens of thousands of years, long before the existence of provincial and territorial borders. The Kaska traditional territory consists of 93,000 square miles of beautiful, rugged, resource-rich land. It covers about 25 per cent of the Yukon, adjacent areas of Northwest Territories and about 10 per cent of B.C.

Kaska Communities

In B.C., the Kaska First Nations are Dease River First Nation at Good Hope Lake; the Lower Post First Nation near Watson Lake , Yukon; and the Kwadacha First Nation at Fort Ware, north of Prince George.

Kaska Dena also live in B.C. communities of Fireside and Mucho Lake, between Watson Lake and Fort Nelson. Two Yukon First Nations - the Ross River Dena Council and the Liard First Nation are part of the Kaska family as well.

Government Structure

Each Kaska First Nation is represented by an elected chief and council.

A tribal chief presides over the Kaska Tribal Council, which includes all five Kaska First Nations. In B.C. an elected chairperson heads the Kaska Dena Council, the negotiating body for the B.C. Kaska.

Status of treaty negotiations

The Kaska land claims are part of the first comprehensive claim accepted by Canada under its 1973 policy. They were accepted by the federal government in 1973 in the Yukon, and in 1983 in B.C.

Agreements related to energy and mineral development, forestry and tourism have been signed between the Kaska, Canada, and British Columbia. These agreements provide opportunities for the Kaska to participate in resource management and benefit from resource-related development on the Kaska traditional territory while treaty negotiations continue.

Successfully concluding treaties, land claims and self-government agreements remain an important priority for the Kaska. These agreements will create the momentum for growth and development in Kaska communities.

Resource Development

The Kaska traditional territory is rich in natural resources, and the Kaska are working cooperatively with industry and government to create opportunities for new investment and economic development. Forestry, oil & gas, tourism, and mining initiatives are currently being pursued.

Meaningful Involvement

For the Kaska, meaningful involvement in development takes the form of joint-ventures, cooperation and participation agreements, impact benefit agreements, and ownership of projects. These kinds of agreements have been struck with several different companies in British Columbia and the Yukon. The Kaska look forward to working in partnership with industry to further develop natural resources in a responsible way that respects the land.

The Kaska have also been actively involved as committee members in several planning initiatives, including the Muskwa Kechika Advisory Board, the Mackenzie LRMP planning team, the Mackenzie River Basin Management Board, and a Landscape Unit Planning team within the Cassier Timber Supply Area.

This page was last modified: Monday, 24-Nov-2003 14:39:45 PST