New agreement in place to protect over 160,000 hectares of land in Northern Alberta

The newly created Kitaskino Nuwenëné Wildland, south of Wood Buffalo National Park, will conserve natural landscapes and watersheds while also supporting traditional Indigenous uses.

The province, federal government, industry, and the Mikisew Cree First Nation are joining forces to protect the area.

It was proposed by the MCFN as a way to protect the National Park and Wildlife.

The new 1,600-square kilometre park links and expands two previously announced parks buffering Wood Buffalo National Park.

It will be called Kitaskino Nuwenene,  Dene words meaning “our land.”

Indigenous people use the land for gathering and trapping, and it’s home to the only bison herd they are allowed to hunt.

The Kistaskino Nuwenëné Wildland is in addition to the more than 6.7 million hectares of contiguous boreal forest protected in 2018.