YORK FACTORY NATIONAL HISTORIC SITE OF CANADA ...

Appendix A. Summary of the Planning and
Consultation Process
Management planning for York Factory NHSC began in the spring of 2005. Parks
Canada staff identified objectives, needs and opportunities to be addressed by
planning, including needs for public consultation. Over the course of the summer
and fall of 2005, a number of approaches were used to inform and involve
stakeholders and interested public about the planning program and to obtain input
for consideration in planning (see Chapter 2 which includes a summary of public
comments). Several site studies and reviews were also done that summer and fall to
assist planning. Over the winter of 2005-06, Parks Canada staff drafted a proposed
management plan using results from the consultations and reviews. From July to
September 2006 the proposed plan was made available for public review and a
number of consultation meetings were held. From this consultation, comments were
considered in completing the management plan. Parks Canada is committed to
continuing consultation and dialogue with First Nations, stakeholders and
interested public on York Factory NHSC for the life of the management plan, its
implementation and review, and beyond. A summary of main planning and
consultation activities during the development of the plan follows:
First Stage
• First Nations discussion group in Thompson, Manitoba, hosted by Parks
Canada, in July 2005. Participants came from York Landing, Fox Lake,
Shamattawa, Churchill and Thompson, at the suggestion of Chiefs of the
York Factory, Shamattawa and Fox Lake First Nations. The meeting focused
on participants’ connections to the site, the site’s importance to them, and
specific issues of importance to them with respect to current and future care
and use of the site. The discussion group results were used in developing the
proposed vision and directions for site management.
• Telephone interviews with site visitors from 2004 concerning their
experience.
• Notifying the interested public by way of information provided in Manitoba
History and The Beaver magazines, at the Honekw Regional Gathering in
Thompson, at the site and Churchill Visitor Centre, on the Parks Canada and
International Polar Heritage Committee websites, and at International
Committee on Monuments and Sites meetings in Toronto and Xi’an, China.
• A newsletter introducing the planning program and the opportunity to be
involved mailed out to more than 140 individuals and government and nongovernment
organizations. Another 200 newsletters were made available at
band offices and/or stores in Gillam, Bird, York Landing, Shamattawa and
at the town office and Visitor Centre in Churchill.
• Telephone interviews of tour operators and outfitters offering a service to
York Factory, and meetings with Silver Goose Lodge (owned by York
Factory First Nation).
York Factory NHSC Management Plan Page 46