New park proposal highlights cultural and environmental heritage of the Torngat Mountains in Nunavik, and the historic traveling route of the Inuit on the Koroc (or Kuururjuaq) River flowing into Ungava Bay and the Labrador sea. Area contains some of the highest continental peaks in eastern Canada, and is known for its spectacular scenic beauty, rugged landscape, and arctic oasis of white birch (the most northern stand in Canada and a unique refuge for wildlife at this high northern latitude). The park plan is an outgrowth of a working group formed in 2002, and represents a collaboration between representatives of the Kativik Regional Government (KRG), the Village of Kangiqsualujjuaq, the village’s Landholding Corporations, the Makivik Corporation, and the Government of Quebec (Ministere du Developpement durable, de l’Environnement et des Parcs). The park provides for protection of the traditional harvesting rights of the Inuit under the James Bay and northern Quebec Agreement, and it places limits on mining development and future mining proposals in the park. Uranium and diamond mine exploration is on-going in the area. Next steps include public hearings for the park’s provisional plan and zoning proposals – scheduled for March 14 and 15, 2007, in the community of Kangiqsualujjuaq. The park plan is available on-line, and further information about the public hearings can be found here. March 5, 2007, is the deadline for written submissions.

Sources:

• Nunatsiaq News: park plan, uranium and diamond exploration, Nunavik provincial parks
• Nature Canada: backgrounder
• Quebec Government: Parc national de la Kuururjuaq website, Press Release
• Photo/Map Credit: photo, map
• Position Paper: Kativik Environmental Advisory Committee (PDF)