Proposal to Designate Pemmican Island Provincial Park

NEW! What We Heard Report

Pemmican Island is located in the north basin of Lake Winnipegosis, approximately 175 kilometres north of Dauphin, 20 kilometres (over water) southwest of Chemawawin Cree Nation reserve land, and roughly 23 kilometres (over water and land) east of Sapotaweyak Cree Nation reserve land. The island is 27.48 hectares in size, and provides habitat for a variety of colonial waterbirds. This includes nesting grounds of double-crested cormorants, a species protected under The Wildlife Act.

Pemmican Island was first designated as a park reserve in June 2001. The designation of an area as a park reserve is an interim measure that provides time for appropriate consultation to take place with Indigenous communities and stakeholders. The park reserve designation was renewed in December 2006 and 2011 to allow for continued discussions regarding designating the reserve as a provincial park. The final park reserve designation was allowed to expire in 2016, to facilitate the issuance of a Mineral Exploration Licence (MEL) on the island. The MEL expired in 2022, and Manitoba is now prepared to designate the island as a provincial park, provided that the Indigenous communities with traditional territory in the area are supportive of the proposed designation and pending the results of the public engagement process.

The Manitoba government is proposing to classify Pemmican Island as a natural park, and to designate the lands within the park under the backcountry land use category (LUC). Areas designated under the backcountry LUC contribute to Manitoba’s network of protected and conserved areas by legally prohibiting commercial logging, mining, hydroelectric development, oil and gas development, exploration for or harvest of peat, and any other activity that may significantly and adversely affect habitat.

The rights of Indigenous peoples to access this area for hunting, trapping, fishing and other traditional pursuits would continue to be respected.

We want to hear from you. Please participate in this survey to provide your opinion on the proposal to designate Pemmican Island Provincial Park. Your comments must be received no later than June 25, 2023.

NEW! What We Heard Report

Pemmican Island is located in the north basin of Lake Winnipegosis, approximately 175 kilometres north of Dauphin, 20 kilometres (over water) southwest of Chemawawin Cree Nation reserve land, and roughly 23 kilometres (over water and land) east of Sapotaweyak Cree Nation reserve land. The island is 27.48 hectares in size, and provides habitat for a variety of colonial waterbirds. This includes nesting grounds of double-crested cormorants, a species protected under The Wildlife Act.

Pemmican Island was first designated as a park reserve in June 2001. The designation of an area as a park reserve is an interim measure that provides time for appropriate consultation to take place with Indigenous communities and stakeholders. The park reserve designation was renewed in December 2006 and 2011 to allow for continued discussions regarding designating the reserve as a provincial park. The final park reserve designation was allowed to expire in 2016, to facilitate the issuance of a Mineral Exploration Licence (MEL) on the island. The MEL expired in 2022, and Manitoba is now prepared to designate the island as a provincial park, provided that the Indigenous communities with traditional territory in the area are supportive of the proposed designation and pending the results of the public engagement process.

The Manitoba government is proposing to classify Pemmican Island as a natural park, and to designate the lands within the park under the backcountry land use category (LUC). Areas designated under the backcountry LUC contribute to Manitoba’s network of protected and conserved areas by legally prohibiting commercial logging, mining, hydroelectric development, oil and gas development, exploration for or harvest of peat, and any other activity that may significantly and adversely affect habitat.

The rights of Indigenous peoples to access this area for hunting, trapping, fishing and other traditional pursuits would continue to be respected.

We want to hear from you. Please participate in this survey to provide your opinion on the proposal to designate Pemmican Island Provincial Park. Your comments must be received no later than June 25, 2023.

  • CLOSED: This survey has concluded.

    Survey

    The Manitoba government wants to hear from Manitobans on the proposal to designate Pemmican Island Provincial Park. The survey will take approximately five minutes to complete.