July 21st 2009, 4-6pm Lands Resources & Heritage Board Room
In Attendance:
From Adamson/Bunbury Family: Hazel Bunbury, David Bunbury, Norm Bunbury, Kevin Bunbury
From TKC Lands Dept: Julia Ahlgren, Environmental Assessment Technician, Simon Lapointe, Lands
Manager
Adamson/Bunbury Family:
More than 50 family members affected by development in Fox Lake Area
Family is known to live around Fox Lake.
Were raised at the south end of Fox Lake
Family’s area is from before Grizzly Valley to Braeburn
Want compensation from highway impacts onwards to now.
Wildlife/Environment:
Animal corridors and birthing areas
Introduction of new animal species
There is a cow moose route that goes along the ridge on the east side of the highway (where the
powerline goes) then down into R-5 and back up through where the farms are near R-5. This is a good
place to learn about hunting.
Ridge trail in the alpine to Horse Creek used by moose.
Animal trails have changed since the highway came in
Could look at moose fatalities along the highway there or hunting records.
Grayling numbers at the south end of Fox Lake have been going down.
Seeing increasing sport fishing going on in Fox Lake. See more garbage floating around.
Elevation of application (concern about septic field and downstream impacts)
The whole valley is moose wintering and calving habitat.
Push for habitat protection. The whole area should have been protected.
David has a cabin on R-5 by Fox Creek. He is not seeing as many moose because the elk are moving in.
Elk are more tolerant of people/farms
Traditional Trails:
These trails are VERY important
Hundreds of trails in the area
Trails starting at farms, heading west and branching one along west side of Fox Lame, one heading
south.
There is a trail starting at the stream south of the campground that ties onto the trail to Old John’s Lake.
There is a trail starting at the “old gravel pit” along the ridge behind the new gravel pit, between the
lakes at eventually to the campsite on Lake Laberge
Fox Lake Kennels – have pushed trails in
At the place we live at Horse Creek, the ag lease has cut off our trail to Lake Laberge.
Hunting trail to Weathervane Mountain. Good area because there are lots of spruce and therefore lots
of food while you are traveling
North Klondike Highway follows Grandfather’s trail.
Traditional Use:
Hunting: moose
Fishing: setting traps for trout, whitefish, pike. Fish grayling. Beaver dam across from gravel pit makes
natural fish trap.
Cranberry and Soapberry picking
Firewood gathering
In general, the east side of the lake is used in the summer and the west side is used in the winter after
the muskeg is frozen. In using the area (at Fox Lake), we moved with the seasons- that’s why there is no
big homestead there. We like to keep things in their natural state. No fences.
By Al Falle’s place (Sod Farm) we used to snare rabbits and gophers.
Development doesn’t just hamper hunting – it completely stops it.
Culturally vital area
What if no hunting limits around houses increases?
Alienation of land
Culture Camp/Teaching:
Culture Camps were run with Takhini Elementary, Whitehorse Elementary and the Young Offenders
There is a staging area right across from the “new” gravel pit used for hunting. This is also where train
kids to shoot and trap.
Small lakes around Fox Lake are used for teaching hunting.
The culture camp will be run again soon. Stopped because Irene Adamson was unwell.
It is harder to get wood now for culture camp.
Teach young about fishing, digging roots.
Oral History/Stories/Place Names:
Weathervane mountain = the tallest mountain you can see from the south end of the lake. In ST called
“Kwatan Aya Dha’al”
The story about the man who predicted his own death.. Buried at the Lake at S-126B1
Didn’t used to be called “Grizzly Valley” was known as “Sheep Creek” or “Mat-shu-ah”
Many family members are more familiar with the ST names for places rather than the English ones.
It is important to understand that family members are the bearers of Oral History. Want the option to
use the area as was used historically.
Wind/Weather :
Prevailing winds blow southward along the lake in the winter. This keeps game away because it blows
over the farms
Prevailing wind effects (erosion and fertilizers)
From campground to south end of lake is generally a cold area.
Windy area known to have drifting in the winter