2023 Updated Draft Bison Plan - Public Engagement Summary

Earlier this year, the Board held a public engagement reviewing the latest draft version of “A conservation and action plan for the Aishihik bison population.”

Planning Process

The Draft Plan is informed by the hard work of the Aishihik Bison Technical Team and represents a unique approach to managing Wood Bison in the Yukon.

The Tech Team is a co-management body consisting of members from the Alsek Renewable Resources Council (RRC), the Government of Canada, Carmacks RRC, Champagne and Aishihik First Nations, Dan Keyi RRC, the Government of Yukon, Kluane First Nation, Laberge RRC, Little Salmon/ Carmacks First Nation, White River First Nation, and the Board. The Yukon Fish and Game Association, the local outfitter, and Parks Canada are also permanent observers.

Responsibilities under the UFA

Under section 16.7.12.2 of the Umbrella Final Agreement (UFA), the Board is responsible for making “recommendations to the Minister on the need for and the content and timing of all Yukon Fish and Wildlife management plans for species included in international agreements, threatened species or populations, species or populations declared by the Minister as being of a territorial, national or international interest, and Transplanted Populations and Exotic Species.”

Within this responsibility, the Board is tasked with “making provisions for public involvement in the development of its decisions and recommendations” (UFA 16.7.6).

To fulfill its mandate as the primary instrument of fish and wildlife management, the Board held a 60-day public engagement period for the updated draft of the bison plan.

Click here to download and review the Draft Plan.

Public Engagement Summary

The public engagement process was led by the Yukon Fish and Wildlife Management Board (the Board) with assistance from the Government of Yukon (Dept. of Environment) and three Renewable Resources Councils (Dan Keyi, Alsek, and Carmacks).

This process is intended to hear from a diverse group of Yukoners who are interested in the future of Wood Bison in the territory and learn what they think about the proposed draft plan.

Questions and comments were received from 80 Yukoners during four community meetings (Burwash Landing, Haines Junction, Whitehorse, and Carmacks).

The Board carefully deliberated the results of the public engagement updated draft plan and made a set of recommendations to the Minister of Environment.

We have created a “What We Learned” document summarizing the key components of the plan, the public engagement process, and the results from our survey and community meetings.

Click here to download and review the What We Learned document (public engagement summary).

Timeline for the plan

The Government of Yukon is conducting government-to-government consultations with the appropriate First Nations.

Following those consultations, changes will either be made to the plan or recommended for approval by the Cabinet.

The plan will then be routed for approval and published.