FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
1. Will my right to hunt, trap, fish or harvest be affected by the land use plan?
2. Who does land use planning apply to?
3. Why is the Sahtu doing a land use plan?
4. How does the Sahtu Land Use Planning Board (SLUPB) work?
5. What does land use planning do?
6. What are the main parts of the Sahtu Land Use Plan?
7. How will self-government negotiations affect the plan?
8. How are settlement lands affected by the plan?
9. If I request a change to the Plan, how does the Board decide whether or not to accept it?
10. When will the Plan be done?
11. What are the different parts of the Plan?
12. How can I get involved in land use planning?
Will my right to hunt, trap, fish or harvest be affected by the land use plan?
Land use planning does not change, impact or affect harvesting or traditional rights of the
Dene and Metis in the Sahtu Settlement Area. Land use planning reaffirms the traditional
and harvesting rights protected under the land claim.
2. Who does land use planning apply to?
Land use planning does not care about who owns the land or who wants to work on the
land. Land use planning is about managing the use of the land. It applies ONE set of
rules to EVERYBODY.
The land use plan applies equally to Sahtu Dene and Metis organizations, government
and industry.
For example, in a Conservation Zone, nobody is allowed to develop on the land.
3. Why is the Sahtu doing a land use plan?
The land use plan was negotiated by the Sahtu and Metis negotiators in the 1993 Sahtu
Dene and Metis Comprehensive Land Claim Agreement. The land use plan is a way to
reduce conflict over different land use interests in the region.
The land use plan protects the areas most important to the Sahtu Dene and Metis for
social, cultural and ecological reasons while allowing for economic development in
suitable areas. The plan will be balanced and take into consideration the interests of all
parties, including the Sahtu Dene and Metis, the GNWT, INAC, industry and non-
governmental organizations (NGOs).
4. How does the Sahtu Land Use Planning Board (SLUPB) work?
The Sahtu Land Use Planning Board (SLUPB) is an institute of public government. It is a
neutral board expected to make decisions in the best interests of the Sahtu communities,
while considering the interests of all Canadians. It was created to give the people of the
Sahtu a voice in how the land is managed.
The Sahtu Land Use Planning Board is made up of representatives from the Sahtu
Secretariat Incorporated (SSI), the Government of the Northwest Territories (GNWT),
and Indian and Northern Affairs Canada (INAC). SSI has 2 members on the Board, the
GNWT has 1 representative and INAC has 1 representative. These 4 members nominate
the Chairperson who makes up the fifth and last member. All members are expected to
make decisions in a fair and neutral manner.
5. What does land use planning do?
Land use planning involves making decisions about how the land will be used in the
future. It takes into account the social/cultural, environmental and economic interests of
all interested parties which includes the people of the Sahtu, the GNWT, INAC, industry,
and non-governmental organizations (NGOs).
Conservation Zones (CZs) set aside lands for protection.
Proposed Conservation Initiatives (PCIs) are areas that are being considered for
protection but not through the land use plan. They include areas that are being considered
for National Park status through Parks Canada, National Wildlife Areas through the
Canadian Wildlife Service or various types of protection through the GNWT. Although
the Sahtu Land Use Planning Board is not involved in the establishment and management
of these areas, the Plan will include the results of these processes.
Special Management Zones (SMZs) allow development but only under special
conditions that protect the values on the land such as water, wildlife, harvesting areas and
cultural sites.
General Use Zones (GUZs) promote economic development for the growth and health
of the region’s future while still providing general rules for development.
6. What are the main parts of the Sahtu Land Use Plan?
The Sahtu Land Use Plan is made up of 3 main parts:
1) The Zoning Map
2) Conformity Requirements
3) Actions and Recommendations
Together these parts make up the Plan. Each part is explained below.
1) The Zoning Map
The Zoning Map shows the entire Sahtu Settlement Area in four colours: green, yellow, light grey and dark grey. Each colour designates a different zone type which manages land use in different ways by applying different conditions and restriction on development.
Conservation Zones (CZs) – Green
All green areas on the map show lands that are protected through the land use plan. Conservation Zones protect the most important areas by restricting new development in these areas. Bulk water removal, oil and gas development, mining, power development, forestry, and quarrying are not allowed in Conservation Zones.
Proposed Conservation Initiatives (PCIs) – Dark Grey
All dark grey areas are areas being protected outside the Plan through other territorial or federal processes, such as establishment of National Parks, National Wildlife Areas or Territorial Parks. Until they are established, the Plan protects these areas as if they were Conservation Zones by restricting new development.
Special Management Zones (SMZs) – Yellow
All yellow areas on the map show areas that allow development but everyone who is developing on the land must take extra care to not damage special values such as cultural sites or important fish and wildlife areas.
General Use Zones (GUZs) – Light Grey
These areas are open for development but are still protected under the permitting system that is already in place across the Mackenzie Valley. The Plan also asks that development follow a new set of rules in the SLUP that apply to GUZs. GUZs provide for economic stability in the Sahtu.
2) Conformity Requirements (CRs)
There are different conditions for development that apply to the different zone types. These conditions are called Conformity Requirements (CRs). All new activities occurring anywhere in the Sahtu Settlement Area are required to conform to (follow) these conditions. General conditions apply to all zone types, and Special Management Conditions apply to SMZs, CZs, and PCIs. CRs add to the current rules and conditions applied through the regulatory system.
All proponents (someone who wants to develop on the land) must demonstrate that they have met the CRs before an application to work on the land or use the water can be granted. The CRs are mandatory.
If a proponent wants to develop on the land, they would first look at the zoning map and figure out which zone they are in. This will tell them whether or not development is allowed and what CRs they have to follow, in addition to all existing requirements, to get a license, permit or other form of permission to carry out work on the land.
3) Actions and Recommendations
Actions (As): These are activities or responsibilities that different Parties have agreed to take on in order to resolve outstanding issues or fill information gaps. They include things like developing new guidelines, providing information needed to reach decisions or having meetings to resolve outstanding issues. Actions must be carried out.
Recommendations (Rs): These are actions that the SLUPB would like different groups to take but that are not required by law. They are suggestions and ideas for different Parties to consider when using the land or making decisions about land use. They are not mandatory.
7. How will self-government negotiations affect the plan?
For the most part, self-government negotiations and land use planning talk about different
things.
Self-government negotiations may deal with topics such as governance (constitution,
structure, and membership), culture and language, housing, taxation and revenues,
education and training, health and social services, roads and traffic, local government
infrastructure, child welfare, and justice. These topics are not addressed in the Plan so
negotiation of these areas will not affect the Plan.
Self-government negotiations may also deal with the use, management, administration,
control and protection of settlement lands; and with economic development, including
tourism. These topics may impact land use planning, but we do not know how yet
because self-government negotiations are still at an early stage for most of the Sahtu
Settlement Area.
Upon completion of self-government negotiations, the Plan may have to be amended to
reflect new governance structures, management of settlement lands, and economic
development.
In the meantime, the current Plan must be developed according to the current system of
land management as set out in the land claim agreement and the Mackenzie Valley
Resource Management Act. These are the negotiated agreements that established the
Sahtu Land Use Planning Board and gave the Board its mandate. The Board has no
power or authority to change these agreements.
For example, the Plan does not deal with land ownership and cannot change who owns or
controls land. Only the land claim agreement and self-government negotiations can do
that. Instead, land use planning is about everybody coming together to agree on how the
land will be managed for the future, regardless of who owns the land. The SSI, the
GNWT and INAC must all agree to manage the land as per the rules in the plan or it will
not be approved.
8. How are settlement lands affected by the plan?
Land use planning does not change who owns the land. Land ownership was determined
through the Sahtu Dene and Metis Comprehensive Land Claim Agreement. The land use
plan is only concerned with how land is managed. The plan shows which areas allow
development and which restrict development. It also identifies conditions for
development.
Settlement lands must be managed according to the zones and conditions in the Plan.
Development that does not follow the zoning and conditions of the Plan will not be
allowed. Conservation zones will rest rict development on settlement lands.
9. If I request a change to the Plan, how does the Board decide whether or not to
accept it?
The SLUPB is a neutral body that will work with all interested parties to produce a plan
that balances the interests of the parties, and the needs of the region. For this reason, not
all recommendations or requests will be granted.
In deciding whether to accept the change or not, the SLUPB will consider factors such as
whether the change will:
- promote the well-being of residents and communities, or the interests of all
Canadians;
- make the Plan clearer and easier to understand;
- resolve a land use issue;
- avoid duplicating existing regulatory processes; and
- be acceptable to SSI, GNWT and INAC.
Not all concerns can or should be addressed through a land use plan. Many are best dealt
with in the regulatory process, or in access and benefits agreements, which can set
project-specific conditions. The SLUPB must consider whether the requested change is
appropriate for a land use plan.
10. When will the plan be done?
The land use plan will be done when the SLUPB feels that it has a final draft that all
approving bodies will agree to. The plan will then be submitted to the SSI. Once SSI
approves the plan, it will be given to the GNWT. Once the GNWT approves the plan it
will be given to the Minister of INAC. The Plan becomes legally binding (like law) on
the day the Minister of INAC signs the Plan.
The Board believes it will need until March 2012 to complete a final draft. The Board
does not know how long it will take for the Plan to be approved by SSI, the GNWT and
INAC.
Once the plan is approved, it will be reviewed every 5 years to allow for changes in
information or decisions. It can also be changed before 5 years if necessary. Every time
the Plan is changed, it must go through the same approval process by SSI, the GNWT and
INAC.
11. What are the different parts of the Plan?
The most recent version of the Sahtu Land Use Plan is Draft 3. It can be downloaded
from the website here.
Draft 3 is supported by a number of other documents also available on our website:
1) Background Report – This document includes an overview of the Sahtu Settlement
Area’s social, cultural, ecological and economic values. All maps and other
information that was used to make planning decisions are included in this report.
2) Draft Conformity Requirement Implementation Guide – This draft report describes
the information that is needed, the criteria and the considerations that regulatory
organizations should undertake when deciding whether or not an applicant has
properly followed the rules of the plan (called Conformity Requirements, or CRs).
3) Table of Comments and Responses – This spreadsheet contains all of the key written
comments and oral comments collected through paper submissions and consultation
meetings on Draft 2. The Board used this table to show what different parties asked of
it and how it responded to the different requests, giving justification and rationale for
its decisions.
4) Cover Letter – Draft 3 of the Plan was released with a cover letter indicating key
changes between Draft 2 and Draft 3.
12. How can I get involved in land use planning?
It is very important to have the active participation of the Sahtu Dene and Metis in the
land use planning process. There are different ways to get involved:
1) Come to our consultation meetings in your community. Whenever a new draft is
released, the SLUPB visits each community to get feedback. We also hold follow-up
meetings between those times to seek clarification on specific questions that have
come up.
2) Visit our website at www.sahtulanduseplan.org to learn more. The website has
information on the Plan and all aspects of our planning process, including:
a. Draft 3 and supporting documents, as well as a Plain Language Summary.
Older versions of the Plan can be downloaded as well if you want to see the
history.
b. All written comments submitted to the Board by interested parties such as
government, industry and non-government organizations (see Public
Comments section).
c. Consultation Summaries – notes of all the SLUPB’s consultations (see Public
Comments section).
d. View the Events & Activities page to keep you updated on our meetings.
3) Contact us directly at the office in Fort Good Hope, in person, or via email, phone or
fax if you have any questions. The SLUPB office now occupies the old Ramparts
Hotel building in Fort Good Hope.
Sahtu Land Use Planning Board
Box 235
Fort Good Hope, NT X0E 0H0
Ph: (867) 598-2055
Fax: (867) 598-2545
Email: slupb@netkaster.ca
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