Seal River watershed protection plan opens for public feedback

Manitoba, the federal government and four First Nations announced a joint $4-million endowment and opened public consultation on a proposal to manage the Seal River watershed through a network of protected areas, including an Indigenous Protected and Conserved Area, a provincial park and a national park reserve.

A joint proposal to protect the Seal River watershed in northern Manitoba has been released for public feedback. The initiative builds on a partnership first announced at the 2022 UN biodiversity talks and on a study begun in 2024 to guide long-term management. Manitoba Environment Minister Mike Moyes, leaders from four First Nations that share the watershed, and federal officials announced a $4-million endowment tied to the effort. The proposal envisions managing the area through a network of protected lands that would honour Indigenous ways of life and allow for visitors. Key facts: - The Seal River watershed covers about 50,000 square kilometres and supports a range of wildlife and wetland ecosystems described in the announcement. - The Seal River Watershed Alliance is made up of four First Nations: Barren Lands, O-Pipon-Na-Piwin Cree, Sayisi Dene and Northlands Denesuline. - The governments and the alliance began a collaborative study in 2024 and first announced the partnership at COP15 in 2022. - Officials announced a joint $4-million endowment to support the Seal River into the future and released a proposal that would manage the watershed through a network of protected areas. - Under the proposal the entire watershed would be an Indigenous Protected and Conserved Area, with about two-thirds designated a provincial park and the remainder a national park reserve; the province must consult Manitobans before establishing a new provincial park and a transfer of some Crown lands to federal jurisdiction is indicated. Summary: The proposal aims to protect the Seal River watershed’s waterways, wetlands and boreal landscapes while involving Indigenous governments in management. Public consultation is now open and the province will need to complete required steps before any new provincial park designation; the timing of final decisions is undetermined at this time.