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Imagine a pristine wilderness.
A place with no roads, no power lines, no machine rumblings.
Imagine.
A place rich with wildlife like elk and caribou.
Imagine.
A place where you can walk ancient Indigenous trails
for weeks without meeting another soul.
Welcome to Dene K’éh Kusān.
One of the most remarkable places on earth.

Welcome to Dene K’éh Kusān.

One of the most remarkable places on earth.

Largest Piece of
Intact Wilderness in BC

Long before provincial land borders were drawn, Kaska Dena peoples lived in 240,000 square kilometres of BC’s far north, southeast Yukon and southern Northwest Territories.

In our language we say Dene K’éh Kusān, which means Always Will Be There. To ensure our people and ancestral lands will thrive today and in the future, we’ve built a plan for protecting this vital piece of northern British Columbia.

Kaska Dena Are Asking
Government to Work
Jointly With Us

Ensuring that our ancestral territory:

Does not suffer the devastating effects of climate change and biodiversity loss we’re seeing across British Columbia, Canada and around the world.

Remains intact, which is critical to preserving Kaska peoples’ material, cultural and spiritual lives.

Continues to shelter caribou, a species struggling to feed itself and breed in other parts of the province.

Sustains and creates economic opportunities for Kaska and others in northern communities.

Becomes a world-class protected area for all people to explore and enjoy.

How We'll Do It

This conservation plan builds on existing special management zones. Protected area boundaries have been carefully drawn to sustain and create jobs and to conserve biodiversity. Forestry tenures are strategically located just outside conservation boundaries and will produce forestry jobs for Kaska communities and others where none exist today. Conservation areas avoid or minimize overlap with existing mining and 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 our ancestral territory.

Time to Take Action

In the spirit and practice of reconciliation, we’ve asked the federal and B.C. governments to support our Indigenous-led conservation plan.
Add your voice to our efforts by signing the Statement of Support.

Latest News & Resources

Story Maps

StoryMap #2 – Flyover Tour

In this story map, we give you the opportunity to take a visual tour of…
Story Maps
StoryMap #1
Videos

Come North. Come to our Home.

The Dena Kayeh Institute is proud to bring together our communities, our friends, and our…
Videos
Kaska Dena Land Guardian Video
Videos
Kaska Dena IPCA Video
News + Press

Environmental Destruction: “As an Indigenous person, it hurts me” / Destruction de l’environnement : «En tant qu’Autochtone, ça me fait mal»

Francopresse | Sciences et environnement | Marine Ernoult • Indigenous women explain their ties to…
News + Press
‘Our Eyes and Ears on the Land’: Indigenous Guardians Soar to 170 Programs Nation-wide
News + Press
Provinces and Territories Commit to National Biodiversity Strategy — Here’s What it Means for Nature

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Contact Us

Dena Kayeh Institute
PO Box 76, Lower Post
BC V0C 1W0

About the DKI

The Dena Kayeh Institute (DKI) is a non-profit society that was established in 2004.

Statement of Support

Sign the Statement of Support and help us to protect this vital piece of northern British Columbia.

The Dena Kayeh Institute is proud to bring together our communities, our friends, and our supporters to share in Kaska storytelling with our very special film: Dene K’éh Kusān, Always Will Be There.