Lands & Resources

The Lands and Resources Department’s mandate arises from the First Nation Final and Self-Government Agreements of 1993 and subsequent policy development. In 2000, the department developed a mission statement and principles for departmental operations, which remain in effect.

Principles of Departmental Operation

Conservation of natural resources for current and our children’s futures use;
Striving for sustainable development and use of natural resources (which means balancing social, economic and environmental factors in decisions about conservation and development);
Integration of Traditional Knowledge with Scientific Knowledge;
Carrying out integrated land and resources management/co-management (which means that all elements of the ecosystem: physical and biological are considered when planning and management decisions are made);
Mutually beneficial partnerships and cooperation with other governments, organizations and stakeholders;
Public, elder and youth participation, and
Fairness and timely responses to NND citizens, Council and others.

Eagle Gold Mine Crisis

The Eagle Gold Mine disaster is an ongoing crisis that the First Nation of Na-Cho Nyäk Dun continues to actively respond to. For more information on site conditions, the history of mining on our Traditional Territory, and our calls to action, please visit: https://emergency-response.nndfn.com/

FNNND's Mining Policy

FNNND supports sustainable development on our Traditional Territory only when it is founded in the Nation’s ancient principles of reciprocity, respect for FNNND’s rights and interests, and consistent with FNNND’s traditional ways of living.

This policy was developed in 2024 to inform Proponents exactly how FNNND makes decisions and on what terms.

Development Assessment in Our Traditional Territory

The Lands and Resources Department wishes to keep citizens informed and facilitate communication about proposed and approved projects and developments in the Traditional Territory.

This page provides information about projects going through the Yukon Environmental and Socioeconomic Assessment Board (YESAB). Please contact the Lands and Resources Department (in person or email lauren.baranik@nndfn.com) if you have information on any of the following questions:

Have you been to the following areas recently?
- Upper Hess Watershed
- Tsé Tagé / Beaver River Watershed
- Clear Creek / Klondike Watershed
- Et’o Nyäk Tagé / McQuesten River Watershed
- Tedze Nyäk and Daghro Män / Mayo River Watershed
Did you observe anything you think the Lands and Resources Department and YESAB should be aware of? Consider the following questions…
- Did the waters look healthy?
- Are there calving grounds?
- Are there fish bearing streams?
- Are there salmons spawning gravels?
- Are there wetlands?
- Are there important wildlife forage areas?
- Are there old camp sites in the area?
- Are there berry patches in the area?
- Are there old trails in the area?
- Is there an active trapline overlapping the area?
- What impacts from development did you notice that were concerning?
- How did the lands and waters look different because of mining/roads/etc.
How do you think the lands and waters and your time on the land in the area would be affected by the proposed development?
Do you have any suggestions for how the effects you have identified could be reduced or eliminated?

What is NND Lands Working on Already?

The Lands and Resources department works hard to comment on every proposed development in the Traditional Territory. Click the links below to see the types of comments we include in each watershed:

Beaver River

Clear Creek

The Et’o Nyäk Tagé / McQuestern River Watershed

Tedze Nyäk and Daghro Män / Mayo River Watershed

Upper Hess Watershed

About the YESAB Process

Proponents, the people or companies that want to mine in an area, submit an application to YESAB, which does impact assessments and recommends changes to projects. YESAB does not issue development permits, but their assessments are a key step in mining review. They consider environmental and social values and give the public a chance to share their opinion on the effects of mining in the region. There is a YESAB office in Mayo responsible for assessments in the Traditional Territory.

Once an assessment is complete, YESAB issues a recommendation of whether a project should or should not go ahead, to the Decision Body, which is typically the Yukon government. When proposed projects are on Settlement Lands, the First Nation is the Decision Body.

YESAB has a 2-week window for commenting on proposed projects. Citizens may comment on projects by contacting our Lands and Resources Department or submitting an individual comment through the YESAB Online Registry. Commenting on proposed projects is a strong way to have your concerns heard at the early stages of the project design. Don’t be discouraged if a project you comment on goes ahead; YESAB recommends over 95% of projects proceed but can add terms and conditions based on public feedback too. Your opinion is important to the Lands and Resources Department.

WHERE TO FIND YESAB DOCUMENTS in the YESAB Online Registry:

There is an advanced filters feature located above the left project column near the map.

Filter by First Nation: Select projects important to FNNND.
Filter by Sector: try filtering for Mining (Placer, Quartz, Other) projects.
Filter by Year: Adjust the date range slide-bar at the bottom of the filters.
Filter by Assessment District: Select the Assessment District that you live in: Mayo, Dawson, Whitehorse, Teslin, Watson Lake, or Haines Junction.

Once you have found a project of interest, click on it and browse project documents:

Project Proposals that outline initial commitments made by the proponent can be found in the Documents tab. But commitments can change, and updated information is uploaded under amended versions of proposals.
Comments are found in a separate Comments tab and show what others have said about the project.
Separate the Comments tab and show what others have said about the project.
Evaluation Reports, the official recommendations made by YESAB, are found in the Documents tab.
Decision Documents are legally binding documents issued by the decision maker (typically the Yukon government). This is the final document uploaded to the Registry and found in the Documents tab.

YESAB makes recommendations that are accepted or rejected by whoever issues the mining land use permit. If YESAB recommends that a project go ahead and that recommendation is accepted by Yukon government, proponents must apply for a water license with the Yukon Water Board.