The Southern Lakes Moose Co-Management Working Group
About the working group
Moose Wé Dzísk’w / Xandēy / Kanday hold strong cultural, ecological and subsistence significance to Yukon First Nations and residents.
Formed in 2024, the Southern Lakes Moose Co-Management Working Group brings partners together to support cohesive, holistic and effective moose management in the Southern Lakes.
Our region
Connected lands. Shared stewardship.
From south-central Yukon to the BC border, the Southern Lakes region includes Whitehorse, vast connected wilderness and critical moose habitat.
Major initiatives
Explore our work in the Southern Lakes.
2025–2030 · Evaluated annually
Wheaton Valley Rest Area
Yaat G̱alsaa — Let this area rest.
A traditional land stewardship practice to give moose a chance to recover and reduce disturbance.
Community involvement
Outreach & Events
Find outreach and events from the working group.
View outreach & events →Southern Lakes Moose Action Plan
A living map to co-management
The Southern Lakes Wé Dzísk’w / Xandēy / Kanday / Moose Action Plan seeks to harmonize conservation efforts with the wisdom and values of the communities involved.
Explore the Action Plan →Eight connected themes
Access
Education
Monitoring
Habitat Enhancement
Trapping and Predator/Prey Dynamics
Moose Harvest
Governance
Policy and Regulations
How we work
Collaboration, shared knowledge and long-term stewardship guide the working group. Select a heading to expand or collapse its details.
Our purpose
- Provide a collaborative opportunity for affected co-management partners to share information, identify priorities and coordinate actions related to moose conservation and management in the Southern Lakes region.
- Support implementation, monitoring and ongoing refinement of the Southern Lakes Moose Action Plan.
- Integrate Indigenous Knowledge, local knowledge and scientific information in the development of management approaches.
- Develop recommendations for participating Parties and their respective decision-making bodies.
- Strengthen long-term co-management relationships and improve capacity for shared stewardship of moose and their habitat.
- Consider those who have no voice, including the moose and future generations.
Our objectives
- Endeavor to develop a shared understanding of moose population trends, habitat conditions and cumulative effects in the Southern Lakes region.
- Identify and prioritize collaborative actions aligned with the Action Plan.
- Track progress on agreed actions and identify gaps or emerging issues.
- Provide coordinated advice and recommendations to the Government of Yukon and other affected co-management partners, as needed.
Our principles
- Respect for treaty rights, Aboriginal rights and the mandates of co-management bodies.
- Recognition of Indigenous Knowledge, local knowledge and scientific information as complementary sources of understanding, with equal value.
- Collaboration, transparency and mutual respect among Parties.
- Commitment to consensus-based decision-making wherever possible.
- Recognition that the Action Plan and the Working Group are adaptive and evolving.
Working together
The region overlaps the Traditional Territories of the six First Nations represented below. The working group includes representatives from all twelve organizations.
First Nations
Champagne and Aishihik First Nations
Carcross/Tagish First Nation
Kwanlin Dün First Nation
Ta’an Kwäch’än Council
Teslin Tlingit Council
Taku River Tlingit First Nation
Renewable Resources Councils
Alsek Renewable Resources Council
Carcross/Tagish Renewable Resources Council
Laberge Renewable Resources Council
Teslin Renewable Resources Council
Board & government
Yukon Fish and Wildlife Management Board
Government of Yukon