NATURAL RESOURCES  Our Mission: To assist the responsibilities of the Vuntut Gwitchin to maintain the quality of the environment while using and managing the natural resources of the Traditional Territory to meet the changing needs of the citizens in a manner that is consistent with the traditional values of the Vuntut Gwitchin. High-Noon - Note the sundogs at each end of the photo. Goals To contribute to the long term social and economic welfare of the Vuntut Gwitchin through the effective use and conservation of the natural resources of the Traditional Territory. Objectives To contribute to the self-governance objective of the Vuntut Gwitchin by delivering a full compliment of program responsibilities for the natural resources and environmental protection sectors consistent with the priorities of, and fiscal resources available to the Vuntut Gwitchin. To facilitate effective involvement of the Vuntut Gwitchin in decision making processes that affect use and conservation of natural resources in the Traditional Territory. To provide effective stewardship of natural resources and quality of the natural environment in the Traditional Territory. To document, protect and display as appropriate the cultural and heritage resources of the Vuntut Gwitchin and develop and maintain records of Vuntut Gwitchin genealogy, enrollment and citizenship. To provide the infrastructure necessary to support Vuntut Gwitchin training, employment, contracting and entrepreneurial opportunities in the public and private sectors associated with the management and development of natural resources. To contribute to the development and negotiation of socio-economic agreements for the Vuntut Gwitchin resulting from resource development projects in the Traditional Territory. To pursue the responsibilities associated with the implementation of all agreements required by UFA and self government agreement. To pursue the many sub-objectives related here to and which will be described more fully in the formal presentation at the General Assembly. Departments and Staff Director Natural Resources - William Josie Under the direction of the Vuntut Gwitchin First Nation Chief and Council the Director of Natural Resources is responsible for reporting, as well as planning, organizing, directing and controlling the VGFN Natural Resources Department operations and staff. Land Resources Manager - Sonja Foss Under the direction of the Natural Resources Director the Land Resources Manager is responsible for: Developing, managing and administering effective integrated land management programs for the use, occupation and protection of Vuntut Gwitchin settlement lands. Reviewing and providing recommendations to the Federal and Yukon governments on the use or alienation Crown lands within the Traditional Territory of the Vuntut Gwitchin First Nation. Coordinate the development of Departmental submissions to environmental and natural resource management and policy reviews that may effect Vuntut Gwitchin interest. Other land use issues as directed by the Director of Natural Resources. Game Guardian - Robert Kaye Conservation Officer - Vacant Under the direction of the Natural Resources Director, the Conservation Officers primary duties are to enforce the Vuntut Gwitchin Wildlife Act and the Land and Resources Act. Complimentary to enforcement duties, the Conservation Officer provides guidance in resource management planning and is responsible for resource inventories, including the documentation of natural resource harvesting in Vuntut Gwitchin Traditional Territory. Direction Set up our Conservation Officer branch of the Natural Resources department. Cooperate with various governments to facilitate compliance activities associated with Fish & Wildlife legislation that has jurisdiction in our Traditional Territiory. Provide support in the development of new conservation education materials and programs related to hunting, trapping, subsistence activities and our traditional views. Maintain an active role in the management of the natural resources by providing guidance in the ongoing management planning of protected areas, land use and for the fish & wildlife in our traditional territory. Include the documentation, storage and manipulation of fish and wildlife harvesting data in the traditional territory. Heritage Resources Officer - Megan Williams Research, inventory and document the heritage resources of the Vuntut Gwitchin First Nation (VGFN) Traditional Territory. Develop and implement a heritage resources interpretation and management program for the VGFN to include the VGFN Traditional Territory including the Vuntut National Park, Vuntut Gwitchin "selected" lands and other areas of interest to the VGFN. Contact technical support services in the field of heritage resources to other governments, academic institutions, and the private sector to the extent that the provisions of these services are in the interest of VGFN. Distribution of Traditional Knowledge Book: The Land Still Speaks Excerpt from The Land Still Speaks: For thousands of years the tundra, forests, lakes, rivers, and mountains of the north Yukon sustained the ancestors of modern Gwitchin. These people maintained a seasonal round of activities – hunting, trapping, fishing, and gathering plants from the land. This maintained them economically, politically, spiritually, and socially. The land provided food, medicine, and materials. More:>>> Film Makers Form Film Makers Form Media Form Media Form Research Form Research Form Enrollment/Membership Coordinator - Tracy Kassi Under the direction of the Natural Resources Director, the Enrollment/Membership Coordinator is responsible for the overall upkeep of accurate genealogy charts of Vuntut Gwitchin First Nation families and of each VGFN beneficiary/citizen enrolled under the Vuntut Gwitchin First Nation Final Agreement. Other duties include assisting VGFN citizens with important documentation. Land Resources Planner - Melissa Valja Reporting to the Director of Natural Resources, the Land Resources Planner is responsible for coordinating the development and providing the technical contribution of the Vuntut Gwitchin First Nation to: regional and local land use planning programs and projects in the traditional territory of the Vuntut Gwitchin; management plans for Vuntut National Park and other Special Management Areas; and, integrated natural resource data systems with other governments. Administrator - Jo Fehr The Administrator is responsible for the management of information design and management, including files and records/archives and other duties as required. If you would like further information please contact us at: Vuntut Gwitchin First Nation Natural Resources Department P.O. Box 102 Old Crow, Yukon Canada, Y0B 1N0 Tel: (867) 966-3261 Fax: (867) 966-3800