First Nation’s community pleased with new park announcement

An Alberta First Nation is applauding the announcement of a new 1,600-square kilometre wildland park in the province.

The park links and expands two previously announced parks buffering Wood Buffalo National Park and was created after three energy companies returned oilsands leases to the province and a fourth company agreed to sell back its leases.

Melody Lepine of the Mikisew Cree First Nation says the Kitaskino Nuwenene Wildland Park will help ensure Indigenous people can keep up their traditional pursuits including trapping, hunting and gathering.

Lepine says it will also start to address concerns raised by UNESCO that Wood Buffalo’s environmental values are deteriorating.