Forest Tenures and their Implications for Exercising Aboriginal and Treaty Rights on the Kaska Traditional Territory

• Main Author: Swaak, Natalie Dawn
• Other Authors: Kant, Shashi
• Format: Thesis
• Language: English
• Published: 2008
• Subjects: Tenure; Aboriginal; Forest Management; British Columbia; Yukon; 0478; First Nations; Kaska
• Online Access: http://hdl.handle.net/1807/11167

This study identifies potential changes within the current tenure system to better accommodate Aboriginal values. Aboriginal expectations for sustainable forest management were identified using structured conceptual content cognitive mapping. A structured survey of industry, government and First Nations participants was then used to identify Aboriginal expectations that are poorly met through the current tenure system and establish which attributes of tenure could be modified in order to meet these expectations. Perception gaps existed between the Kaska and government/industry about the ability of current forest management institutions to meet Aboriginal expectations. Some of the expectations were met in part by tenure but when tenure failed or couldn’t meet expectations, other institutions were often in place to meet them. However, some expectations could neither be met through institutions nor modifications to existing tenures and so recommendations were made for the creation of an Aboriginal tenure as a means of addressing these issues.