Protecting The Largest Intact Landscape in BC – Dene Kʼéh Kusān
A place where you can walk along ancient Indigenous trails for weeks without meeting another human soul.
Dene K’éh Kusān – meaning Always Will be There – is a campaign to establish an Indigenous Protected and Conserved Area (IPCA) in northern BC, spanning over 4 million hectares of Kaska Dena ancestral lands. This vast wilderness, home to rich biodiversity, is threatened by climate change and industrial activity. CPAWS-BC and the Kaska Dena are working together to protect wildlife and cultural heritage, ensuring a sustainable future for Kaska communities and their territory.
Why Action is Needed
What's at stake?
Without protection, Kaska Dena lands face biodiversity loss and cultural erosion. Unprotected, these lands may suffer from unchecked industrial development, threatening this pristine environment and the Kaska peoples’ cultural and spiritual lives. Preserving Dene K’éh Kusān is vital to securing ecological health, cultural integrity, and sustainable economic opportunities for future generations.
- Largest intact landscape in BC
- A place with no roads, no powerlines, no machine rumblings
- A place rich with wildlife like elk and caribou
- A place where you can walk ancient Indigenous trails for weeks without meeting another soul
Solutions
We're supporting the Kaska Nation through an ongoing partnership with the Dena Kayeh Institute to support their work and vision for their territory.
Protected area boundaries have been carefully drawn to sustain and create jobs and conserve biodiversity. Forestry tenures are strategically located just outside conservation boundaties and will produce forestry jobs for Kaska communities and others where none exist today. Conservation areas avoid or minimize overlap with existing mining, oil and gas extraction sites.
This protected area also opens up exciting economic opportunities for Kaska to welcome and guide outdoor enthusiasts who come to fish, hunt, hike, and camp in Kaska territory.
- Conserve biodiversity
- Minimal overlap with existing extraction sites
- Economic opportunities
Kaska need your support!
Sign the Kaska statement of support for Dene K’éh Kusān
Updates & News
CPAWS BC
March 20, 2025
Progress report shows BC needs faster action on nature conservation
Today marks the first day of spring, and it’s a cool, crisp day where I live on Secwépemc territory in ...
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CPAWS BC
March 5, 2025
CPAWS-BC urges province to continue advancing nature conservation following 2025 BC Budget
Wednesday, March 5, 2025, unceded territories of the Coast Salish Peoples/Vancouver, BC – With the release of a very tight ...
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CPAWS BC
January 16, 2025
CPAWS-BC urges the BC Government to keep up conservation momentum following Mandate Letters
Unceded territories of the Coast Salish Peoples/Vancouver, BC – The Canadian Parks and Wilderness Society, British Columbia (CPAWS-BC) is urging ...
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Indigenous Protected and Conserved Areas (IPCA)
Indigenous Peoples have cared for lands and waters since time immemorial. As original stewards, Indigenous Peoples’ leadership, knowledge and experience ...
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