Wood Buffalo National Park, Canada's largest national park and the second-largest national park in the world at 17,300 square miles, will shrink a bit to allow creation of an Indian Reserve.
Wood Buffalo National Park was originally created in 1922 to protect the last free roaming herds of wood bison in northern Canada. The park was later identified as critical habitat for the endangered whooping crane and it continues to protect the only wild, self-sustaining population of whooping cranes in the world.
The 2010 management plan for Wood Buffalo National Park establishes a course of action to facilitate the inspired discovery of one of Canada's wilderness icons and to provide Canadians with an opportunity to create a sense of connection to Wood Buffalo National Park. It also sets the stage for Parks Canada to establish a management structure with local Aboriginal groups and build stronger relationships with stakeholders, and it presents a comprehensive strategy to address disease within the park's wood bison population.
A recent release from the Canadian government that discussed an act to amend the Rouge National Urban Park Act, the Parks Canada Agency Act and the Canada National Parks Act, mentioned the decision to reduce Wood Buffalo National Park by 22 square miles to create the Garden River Indian Reserve.
"Through this amendment, the Government of Canada is honouring its commitment to the Little Red River Cree Nation," the release said. "The creation of the Garden River Indian Reserve builds on the Government’s commitment to reconciliation and nation-to-nation relationship with Indigenous Peoples, based on a recognition of rights, respect, co-operation, and partnership."
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