TORNGAT MOUNTAINS NATIONAL PARK
National Park System Plan
The Park system plan of Canada started in 1970s. The Park System Plan is aiming its goal to represent every national region within the national parks system. This approach has provided a policy framework for the development of the national parks. It also has it goal that has guided the expansion of Canada’s national parks system since its vision started in 1970s. When the system plan is complete, our future generations will be able to see and experience our country’s national parks its biophysical diversity.
This is one of the National Park System’s goals and it is not just a mere representation of how Canada’s national parks can be preserved, which will benefit the country’s future generations. The system plan aims to preserve Canada’s distinctive natural regions, which define the country’s landscape and shaped the nation’s history.
The National Parks System plans was also the guiding point about how the national parks are being established. In its introduction, it described the national parks as public lands that are of special type, which the federal government administers. The land is being administered based on the National Parks Act along with its provisions. Since selecting, identifying, and estbalishing the country’s new national parks can be a complex and long process. That is why many essential factors to establish new national parks are way beyond the federal government’s control. The final results of selecting and establishing a new national park reflect an individual circumstances as well as the involvement of all parties are directly affected, despite the sequence of steps followed.
In selecting a potential national park, various factors must be considered one of the initial steps. This may include the natural region’s quality of representation, potentiality to support viable populations of the region’s wildlife species, and ecosystem’s ecological integrity. In addition, the potential national park must have a rare and exceptional natural phenomena that may include endangered or threatened vegetation and wildlife. It must also pass the national park’s international criteria and the possible implications of the Aboriginal rights, treaties and land claims with Aboriginal people.
Park Canada’s Mandate
Park Canada’s mandate is to protect and present the significant examples of Canada’s cultural heritage as well as it natural heritage. Additionally, to foster public appreciation, enjoyment, and understanding. These can be done in a way that ensuring the ecological as well as the commemorative integrity of the country’s parks for the benefit of the present and future generations. Their mandate also includes their roles as guardians, guides, partners, and storytellers of Canada’s natural and cultural heritage. They act as guardians as they protect the national parks including the historical sites and the national marine conservation within Canada.
They also serve as guides to visitors from many parts of the world to which they open the country’s doors to discover, learn, reflect, and recreate. Parks Canada is a partner in building the rich traditions of the country’s Aboriginal people and the strength of Canada’s diverse cultures along their commitments to the international community. Moreover, Parks Canada is also the storyteller who recounts the land’s history and people, which is the overall story of Canada.
On the other hand, Parks Canada is also committed to protect the country’s cultural and natural heritage in which they prioritize to keep them whole and healthy. They are also committed to present the natural world’s beauty and significance as well as to chronicle people’s ingenuity and determination that both shaped the nation. Parks Canada is celebrating the visionary Candians’ legacy, whose knowledge and passion have inspired the vakues and character of the whole country. And, lastly, Parks Canada is committed to serving Canadian, who work together in achieving excellence that is being guided by respect, competence values, and fairness.
Torngat Mountains National Park Details
The Torngat Mountains National Park is Canada’s newest national park. The park took its name from the term Tongait, an Inuktitut word. This national park has a land area of nine thousand seven hundred square kilometers of beautiful and eye-catching wilderness that stretches from Saglek Fjord all the way to the northern part of Labrador and from the Atlantic going to the west of Quebec’s border.
This national park is a land of mountains, where many polar bears live. There are also caribou and small glaciers in which the Inuit fish, hunt, and travel. It was the same kind of living that the Aboriginal people did thousands of years ago. This park is designated as Canada’s National Park.
The Torngat Mountains National Park is located in a remote area that makes the park different from the mountains that are more accessible in the south. If you want to visit and travel to this national park, you are required to have a careful planning, you have to be registered with the park’s officials, and you must have the right equipment. That is because there would be no roads, campgrounds, nor signs that will guide you what to see or where to go.
It is actually recommended by Parks Canada to be engaged with trained people if you are planning to visit this national park. These people are trained Polar polar bear guards who knows better when hiking in the park. The Torgan Mountains National Park holds one of the greatest scenery that not all countries have. It has a breathtaking views that make it different from other national parks.
There are many activities that can be done in this national park. Visitors can experience the park’s cultural and spiritual sites to which the Inuits harvest trip as they search and gather food that will be brought back to their base camps.
The best way to see this park is by riding a cruise ship. Some small ships annually visit the area. Visitors can also feel a different fishing experience wherein they can catch fresh Arctic char that can never be experienced in a river and saltwater fishing. Some other activities that can be done in this national park includes sightseeing via helicopter, mountain climbing, hiking, backcountry skiing, and even camping.
Tourism Significance
This national park is overseen by the Co-Operative Board, which is made up of Inuit delegates from Nunavik, Nunatsiavut as well as Parks Canada, and gives guidance to various government offices and organizations about some matters identified with administration of this National Park including any viable matters connected with the park for which its recommendation is needed.
The staggering wilderness of the Park contains nine thousand seven hundred square kilometers located on the Northern part of the Labrador Mountains characteristic region. Conversely, only few places in the world where such a cluster of land characteristics and processes could be seen in a solitary landscape. The constrained vegetation land, high mountains, seaside cliffs, profoundly etched fjords, and cliffs, which shows perpendicularity of the rock fabric give some of the outsanding views of the world's geologic history. Additionally, the region holds two distinct and contrasting views: the George Plateau as well as the beautiful Torngat Mountains.
There are many archeological sites in this park, some going back about seven thousand years, giving proof of early occupation of the Pre-Dorset, Archaic Indians, as well as the Dorset Paleo-Eskimo, including the Thule society that united into present day Inuit. Conversely, these sites that include stone caribou wall, tent rings, food reserves and internment sites, recount the individuals’ story and social cultures, which have made these exceptional parts of the country their home through the centuries.
Notwithstanding its broad history of early human occupation, the area holds the prescence of immaculate wilderness. Inuit keep on using this territory for fishing, hunting, and traveling all around the year. However, there is no all-year-round occupation inside the national park’s boundaries today. This national park is a significant landmark of Canada as it holds a unique characteristics that can only be found in this country. It symbolises the history that started thousands of years ago regarding the life and culture of the first occupants of Canada.
Moreover, tourists will not just see the park’s breathtaking views, but they will personally experience the life of the early occupants. They could also feel how it was like to live in such location, surrounded by waters, mountains and natural resources that are available for human consumption.
This national park is also a significant tourism destination as it allows visitors to explore the world of Aboriginal people, who lived in such mountains. It will serve as a silent teacher to those who visit the park in which they will learn more about our natural resources, cultural and historical heritage. Hence, the relationship of the tourism business with this park is the local guides that not only help in promoting the national park, but it provides additional income for them as they go along with the visitors in exploring the park’s wonder.
Issues that the Park is Facing and its Plans/Solutions
One issue that the Torngat Mountain National Park had faced is the issue of land claims. The vast area of the park was under the issue in which the Labrador Inuit has the claim on the land. The Inuits’ cultural and historical relationship has been recognized by the government. That is why the Labradot Inuit Land Claims Agrement has been created. Parks Canada was working very hard to help fixing the issue. They ensure that the Inuit will be incorporated in every aspect of the national park’s management. In fact, All of the staff members of the park’s base camp are all Inuit. Their primary task is to give guidance as they lead the hikes. While hiking, they tell the traditional stories to which they act as polar bear guardians. Visitors will end up seing the park through the Inuits’ eyes.
This issue of land claims has been addressed and resolved accordingly. Parks Canada ensured the Inuits role to be significant so as they will not be outcaste in terms of managing the national park. As a resolution, the Labrador Inuit Land Claims Agreement Act has been enacted. This law provides the recognition and affirmation of the existence of the Aboriginal treaty rights of the Aboriginal people of Canada. Thus, the Aboriginal people have the rights in and to the Land Claims Area just like the definition is stated in the agreement.
The government did not take the Aboriginal people’s rights for granted as they knew that these people have a decent of the early occupants not only of the area, but of the country. Thus, the Labrador Inuit as descendants of the Aboriginal people are the ones who are capable and knowledgeable enough to sustain the park’s culture and history. The agreement that was created to give rights to the Inuits served not only as a plan, but a proper solution to the issue that the park was facing. The issue was addressed accordingly and legally to which no parties were impartially treated. It was a good resolution wherein rights were given to the land claimants along with the jobs that were given to them to lead, educate and to entertain park visitors.
Visiting Park in Sustainable Manner as Responsible Visitor
The environmental benefits, which come from sustainable national parks are numerous: lessened flooding as well as erosion, air contamination filtration, air cooling and biodiversity protection, to name a few. The biodiversity, or various living things, in a region depends in big part on the parks' quality, backyards, forests, and farmlands. When these areas are intended to minimize road fragmentation and connection to other green spaces, they are more fit for benefiting individuals, wildlife, ecological quality and the economy. Numerous types of wildlife require vast tracts of land to discover sustenance, shelter and mates. Linked landscapes might give pathways to wildlife moving from one location then onto the next, especially where pressures on development are high.
As visitors of the park, we should have the basic understanding about sustainable management practices, which includes implementation strategies and benefits. We must also seek a professional guidance in management plans and development design.
One of the most important things to remember when visiting a national park is to be a responsible person. We must bring nothing and leave nothing wherever the national park is. In this way, our self-discipline towards maintaining and sustaining our environment can be achieved. Thus, there would be no risks that will be put in our environment if we exercise sustainable and responsible visiting manner.
The Torngat Mountains National Park Meeting Patks Canada’s Mandate
This national park has many factors that make it meet the Parks Canada’s mandate. Part of the Parks Canada's mandate is to present as well as to protect the country's cultural and natural heritage. The Torngat Mountains National Park ensures that its significance will be taken care of by the people who have early occupants decent. In this case, the national park's conservation i terms of its culture is being well-preserved. Park Canada's mandate also includes the assurance of public appreciation, understanding and enjoyment.
It is evident that these three factors are being exercised in Torngat Mountains as many people visited the park and left with education taught by the Inuits. They were also able to appreciate the cultural heritage of the park that provided an enjoyment with their visit. Therefore, another part of the mandate, which is to become a storyteller of the land's people and history.
Recommendations regarding the Torngat Mountains park would be its significance for tourism and business. The Parks Canada may need to consider the expansion of access to this national park in terms of adding more people who will guide the tourists when they visit the park. In this case, not only the Inuits people who will help in spreading the education, enjoyment and appreciation factors of the park; but many people including the non-Inuits would be able to promote the Torngat Mountains National Park.
References
Government of Canada (n.d.). Labrador Inuit Land Claims Agreement Act. Retrieved March 29, 2014, from http://laws-lois.justice.gc.ca/eng/acts/L-4.3/
New Foundland Labrador Canada (n.d.). Torngat Mountains National Park – Newfoundland and Labrador–9,700 Square Kilometres of Spectacular Northern Wilderness. Retrieved March 29, 2014, from http://www.newfoundlandlabrador.com/placestogo/torngatmountainsnationalpark
Parks Canada (n.d.). National Park System Plan. Retrieved March 29, 2014, from http://www.pc.gc.ca/eng/docs/v-g/nation/nation1.aspx
Parks Canada (n.d.). The Parks Canada Charter. Retrieved March 29, 2014, from http://www.pc.gc.ca/eng/agen/chart/chartr.aspx
Tammemagi, H. (2012, August 4). The Tyee – Five National Parks that Honour First Nations. Retrieved March 29, 2014, from http://thetyee.ca/Life/2012/08/04/Canadas-Five-Best-Parks/
Torngat Mountains Base Camp and Research Station (n.d.). Torngat Mountains National Park : Torngat Mountains Base Camp and Research Station. Retrieved March 29, 2014, from http://www.torngatbasecamp.com/home/national_park.htm
