Protecting Seal River watershed necessary as governments look north for critical minerals: Indigenous alliance

A vast expanse of pristine land in northern Manitoba is one step closer to becoming a protected area.

A commission tasked with looking into the feasibility of making the Seal River watershed a protected area has ruled it is possible to turn the land into a national park reserve and an Indigenous protected and conserved area.

The assessment was one of the steps agreed to in a memorandum of understanding signed by an alliance of four local First Nation bands and the federal and provincial governments a year ago.

The Seal River Watershed Alliance — representing the Sayisi Dene, Northlands Denesuline, Barren Lands and O-Pipon-Na-Piwin Cree First Nations — said it wants to keep the land pristine as governments look to exploit mineral resources in the north.

"We know that the [federal government's] critical mineral strategy really looks toward the north and to Manitoba to help fill some of those needs," said executive director Stephanie Thorassie.

"We want to make sure that we're doing our part to help protect nature as a fully intact watershed."

The report says mineral exploration has taken place there in past decades, but it's been limited by high costs due to its remoteness, presenting a significant barrier to future mining activity.

The report says a recent update to the province's mineral deposit database shows "possible medium to high mineral potential" in areas of the watershed. Thorassie said the findings were part of a desktop study, and it's not known precisely what kind of minerals could be there.

"The area would actually need a considerable amount of work done in order to have these kinds of economic opportunities put in there … not to mention the fact that the nations themselves are totally against mineral extraction in the area," she said.

Recently, Manitoba Premier Wab Kinew took a cue from his predecessor, Heather Stefanson, in calling the province the "Costco of critical minerals" during a visit to Washington, D.C., as part of a charm offensive to convince the U.S. government to drop its tariff threats. 

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has previously said U.S. President Donald Trump is pursuing Canada's annexation because he wants access to the country's critical minerals.

Manitoba has 30 of 34 critical minerals

Kinew said last year the province would be looking into mining in other areas of northern Manitoba, but not the Seal River watershed.

The memorandum of understanding put in place temporary protections from mineral exploration and staking in the area. All mineral rights have been withdrawn until Dec. 31 of this year.

Provincial Environment Minister Mike Moyes said the province is committed to the pause "while the conversation is being had."

"There's lots of other areas in the province we're going to be looking … trying to ensure that our minerals are being mined and being explored," he said. "In this area, we're going to continue that pause to ensure that that conversation can be had."

The province has 30 out of the 34 minerals on Canada's critical minerals list. Forty-five companies are actively exploring for 19 of those, according to the province's critical mineral strategy published last November.

The Seal River watershed, a 50,000-square-kilometre region west of the Hudson Bay, is one of the most pristine watersheds in the world, and one of its richest carbon sinks.

At least 25 known at-risk species inhabit the watershed, according to the federal government, including wolverines, polar and grizzly bears, and barren-ground caribou.

Both the Manitoba and Canadian governments have touted the contributions protecting the area would make to their respective climate targets. The province says it would increase the amount of conserved land in the province by almost seven per cent, significantly contributing to its target of reaching 30 per cent by 2030.

"We want to make sure that Manitobans and Canadians and local people can still access the lands and water, the caribou that come through there," Thorassie said.

"We can encourage visitors to visit these places. We know that our cultures are unique, and Indigenous tourism is another area we're hoping to help support."

Five commercial lodges in the area generate about $11 million in tourism revenue per year, the report says. It also cites a 2022 International Institute for Sustainable Development study that found the value of carbon stored there is worth at least $314.5 billion.

The alliance has held consultations with locals and stakeholders. An online survey conducted by Parks Canada last year suggested a majority of its 1,427 respondents agreed creating a national park reserve in the watershed would have benefits, including ecological stability and advancing reconciliation.

Thorassie said the assessment is just a first step, and that more consultations, as well as negotiations with the federal and provincial governments are still to follow.

"Everything still needs to be ironed out," she said. "What the protected area could look like all has to be decided … as we move forward."

Nearly 14 per cent of the area is already protected. Thirteen environmental monitoring jobs have already been established.