Dena Kayeh Institute
ORCBC Webinar January 27, 2026
For many outdoor recreationist Dene K’éh Kusān represents what you value most, wild places, healthy wildlife, freedom to travel, and confidence that these landscapes will exist for future generations.
PRESENTATION TOPICS
The DKK - What Makes it Remarkable
Allowable Uses - What does this mean for outdoor Enthusiasts?
Co-Management – Why is I a good thing?
Land Use Planning – Where we are and what’s next
How can Recreation Enthusiasts Offer Support?
The DKK - What Makes it Remarkable
Dene K’éh Kusān 40,000 SQ KM
The largest piece of intact wilderness in British Columbia—supporting wildlife, people, and recreation together.
Environmental Integrity:
5 intact ecoregions, 10 major watersheds, wetlands, alpine, boreal forests
Wildlife values:
Home of 7 Woodland Caribou herds, moose, sheep, predators, migratory birds Habitat connectivity across BC–Yukon
Recreation Opportunities:
Backcountry hiking, hunting, fishing, paddling, trapping Remote, self-reliant, wilderness experiences
Cultural values:
Kaska cultural values will guide DKK
Conservation is place-based and lived, not abstract.
Stewardship is continuous through Dane nan yḗ dāh (DNYD) land guardian program Protection is paired with use, responsibility, and presence.
Governance reflects those who know the land best.
Managed through Kaska Laws
Allowable Uses - What does this mean for outdoor Enthusiasts?
DKK is about clarity, balance, and long-term access.
Activities that continue include
Hiking, hunting, fishing, trapping Wildlife viewing, paddling, camping, guide & outfitting, eco-tourism, trailing riding
What “allowable use” means
Uses that align with ecological limits and cultural values Predictability instead of uncertainty
What will be managed differently
No Industrial scale or high-impact development
Location, timing, or intensity of certain uses
Why this matters for recreation
Healthy wildlife populations Maintained wilderness character Continued access into the future
Stewardship of the DKK: Co-Management – Why is it a good thing?
Co-management means shared responsibility
Kaska Nation and government working together
Decisions grounded in Kaska law, modern science, and lived experience
Joint planning tables Shared monitoring and adaptive management
For recreation users
Clear expectations
Local knowledge guiding decisions Long-term stability for access and use
Land Use Planning – Where we are and what’s next
Where we are now
Vision and values defined Technical studies underway (socio-economic)
Ongoing engagement with Nations, governments, and stakeholders
What’s coming next
Refinement of zones and management approaches Draft recommendations
Continued engagement and feedback
Currently, over 90% of
Kaska’s traditional territory
in BC already has Land Use
Plans in place
How can Recreation Enthusiasts Offer Support?
Stay informed
Share respectful input
Help identify what matters most for recreation users Build relationships
Support Indigenous-led stewardship Sign our Statement of Support on our Website
Keep showing that recreation and stewardship belong together
Outdoor recreation, when practised respectfully, is not separate from Kaska Stewardship – it fits within in. The alignment comes from shared values and clear responsibilities that guide how people move on the land.
What is an IPCA?
Check out our films!
IPCA Documentary
How Does the Kaska IPCA
Support the Conservation Economy
WEBSITE:
www.denakayeh.com
Shṓ ́ we sénlá
Questions?