Visitors are welcomed to Thaıdené Nëné, but there are rules, courtesies to follow

The annual closure to outsiders for the sacred spiritual gathering site area in the Thaıdene Nëné National Park Reserve runs this year from August 5th to 19th.

Each year, the Superintendent for Thaıdene Nëné issues a temporary area closure for Desnéthcheé (the Spiritual Gathering Site), and surrounding area, to allow members of the Łutsël K’é Dene First Nation (LKDFN) gather every summer for traditional spiritual ceremonies, healing practices, and cultural sharing.

Only LKDFN members, their guests, and Section 35 rights holders are permitted to be there, stated a release from Thaıdene Nëné National Park Reserve Superintendent Laani Uunila.

Also, visitors to the National Park Reserve at the East Arm of Great Slave Lake, are on notice that flying recreational drones is illegal.

Operating a drone within park boundaries can draw a fine of up to $25,000 under the Canada National Parks Act — the same penalty if caught trespassing at the Spiritual Gathering Site during the restricted times.

It’s a reminder that this summer saw the first relationship plan for the Indigenous protected area with the federal government, an agreement that sets out a vision and objectives for long-term stewardship of the ruggedly beautiful 26,376 square kilometres of the NWT.

The 10-year plan is called Thaıdene Nëné Badı Xá, meaning “watching over Thaıdene Nëné” in Dene Yatı.

It helps define what a “respectful and positive visitor relationship with this land looks like,” sets out what activities can happen where, and highlights the importance of story that visitors will learn from Thaıdene Nëné and nuwé ch’anıe (Dene values and knowledge systems), stated a release.

Thaıdene Nëné encompasses a national park reserve, a territorial protected area and a territorial wildlife conservation area.

Newly re-elected Lútsël K’é Dene First Nation Chief James Marlowe told media in June the establishment of Thaidene Nëné National Park Reserve is “one of the best things that ever happened” to his community.

Thaidene Nëné was established in 2019 — Ottawa first proposed a national park in the area in the 1970s — and is co-managed by the Lútsël K’é Dene First Nation, Northwest Territory Métis Nation, Parks Canada and the NWT government.

The Deninu Kųę́ First Nation and Yellowknives Dene First Nation also provide guidance on stewardship.

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Mǫwhì Gogha Dè Nı̨ı̨tłèè, the traditional use area of the Tłı̨chǫ, overlaps a portion of Thaıdene Nëné’s protected area boundary and provides for certain rights under the Tłı̨chǫ Agreement, such as harvesting rights.

“Thaıdene Nëné is a healthy landscape because of the countless generations of our people who have cared for the land and water,” stated Chief Marlowe in a social media post.

“Thaıdene Nëné Badı Xá provides direction on how we will continue to steward Thaıdene Nëné for generations to come in collaboration with our partners.”

Iris Catholique, manager of Thaıdene Nëné, told Cabin Radio: “It’s a path-breaking model for collaborative stewardship. It is grounded in old ways, it’s grounded in relationships, in respect, in care, in collaboration and in ceremony.”

Andrew Campbell, interim president and chief executive officer of Parks Canada, described the plan to media as “truly inspirational.”

He continued: “It’s about the respect of the land, it’s about the respect of the people, it’s about the respect of culture, it’s about how all of that is going to come together in the management of this area.”

Thaıdene Nëné is the place where the barrens and subarctic boreal forest converge on the shore of one of the world’s largest freshwater lakes in a stunning display of rugged, northern beauty, states Parks Canada.

It is home to caribou, muskox, wolverines, bears, wolves, moose, lynx, birds and fish, and it spans waterfalls, lakes, rivers, cliffs, forest and tundra.

Some of the plan’s targets include developing a monitoring and research plan, creating a tourism strategy, and building a visitor centre and shared office in Łutselk’e.

The relationship plan sets five goals:

1. Promoting nuwé ch’anıe.
2. Sustaining the ecological integrity of Thaıdene Nëné.
3. Building and maintaining healthy relationships.
4. Creating good visitor knowledge and experiences.
5. Supporting opportunities that strengthen Indigenous prosperity and well-being.

Visitors are prohibited from accessing some areas (0.05 percent of the national park reserve), which covers areas that contain unique, threatened or endangered natural or cultural features.

Those include the spiritual gathering site Desnéthcheé as well as an island on Ɂedacho Tł’ázı̨ – or Timber Bay – where Gahdële, a powerful medicine man, is buried.

In other areas designated under Zone 1, such as Tsąkuı Thedá  — or Parry Falls — and the Taché/Kaché Village Site, visitors are allowed access with a licensed guide.

Zone 2 zone covers 78% of Thaıdene Nëné, and it’s where motorized access and use are allowed under specific circumstances. In some cases, permits are required.

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In Zone 3, motorized access and use are allowed. This zone covers Tu Nedhé or Great Slave Lake, all water bodies in the territorial protected area, Tthe Kálı̨ka Tué or Stark Lake and several commercial leases.

Marlowe told Cabin Radio that Thaıdene Nëné will protect the land, water and wildlife from industrial activity and highlighted benefits like employment.

“Sometimes when we sit there and talk about the protected area Thaıdene Nëné — and then you … see all those Elders sitting with us, talking about the future, the young people, the training, the opportunities — they were right that they were creating something for today and tomorrow, for the future.”

Some fun facts from Ottawa and Łutsël K’é about Thaıdene Nëné:

• The deepest water in North America is in Ɂıdor Bekue Chëlé Tł’ázı̨ (Christie Bay) in Tu Nedhé (Great Slave Lake).
• Tu Nedhé is surrounded by boreal forest, which transitions to subarctic forest and eventually to tundra as you move northeast.
• Thaıdene Nëné is home to both Arctic and boreal species, such as barren-ground caribou, muskox, wolverine, grizzly bear, wolf, moose, lynx, black bear, lake trout, and Arctic grayling.
• Important waterfowl staging and bird nesting areas are also found throughout Thaıdene Nëné.
• Fort Reliance National Historic Site is located within Thaıdene Nëné National Park Reserve near Desnéthcheé in the area known as Taché/Kaché.
• There have been positive employment gains made since Thaıdene Nëné was established in 2019. Multiple jobs have been created in protected area operations, and a few local business operators now provide licensed tourism services to visitors.
• The team that developed the relationship plan won the Parks Canada’s highest honour, the 2026 CEO Award of Excellence in the spirit of collaboration category.

Visitors are welcomed, and will learn how to respect places of cultural and spiritual importance, and are informed of culturally appropriate behaviours if visiting important sites to ensure visitation is sustainable.

An office complex and visitor centre is being developed in Łutsël K’é, where staff from Łutsël K’é Dene First Nation, Parks Canada, and the Government of the Northwest Territories can work together collaboratively.