FRANCAIS

June 11, 2006

WINNIPEG, MANITOBA– One of Canada’s most unspoiled and historically significant waterways – the Hayes River in Manitoba – is now a member of the Canadian Heritage Rivers System (CHRS).

Mr. Rod Bruinooge, Member of Parliament for Winnipeg South, on behalf of the Honourable Rona Ambrose, Minister of the Environment and Minister responsible for Parks Canada, with the Honourable Stan Struthers, Manitoba’s Minister of Conservation, today unveiled a CHRS plaque commemorating the Hayes River designation on Canadian Rivers Day.

“This magnificent river has played an influential role in Canada’s development as a nation,” said Minister Ambrose. “As the only navigable waterway connecting the southern interior of Western Canada and Hudson Bay, the Hayes was a vital transportation route for Aboriginal peoples, fur traders and explorers, and opened vast reaches of our country to exploration. It was also pivotal in the operations of the Hudson’s Bay Company, which used the river as a corridor to ship cargo and furs between the Old World and the New. Today, Canadians can see traces of this rich heritage on the river, and enjoy exceptional recreational and wilderness experiences.”

“Few other rivers offer Canadians such a unique opportunity to experience our natural and cultural heritage,” said Minister Struthers. “For the First Nations along the river, designation of the Hayes as a Canadian Heritage River is the culmination of many years effort working with Manitoba Conservation to help conserve and care for this river that is their highway and home. All Manitobans who participated in the planning process should be proud to see their efforts come to fruition with the river’s designation.”

“I am delighted that this beautiful and historic river was added to Canada’s family of heritage rivers, the Canadian Heritage Rivers System,” said Mr. Bruinooge. “In the spirit of Canadian Rivers Day, I commend the efforts of the First Nations and partners who will conserve this river for present and future generations of Canadians to experience and enjoy.”

The Hayes traverses the traditional territory of four First Nations – Norway House Cree Nation, Bunibonibee Cree Nation, Shamattawa First Nation and York Factory Cree Nation. For these First Nations the historic Hayes River fur trade route is part of their history, as well as a current transportation route along which people continue to practice traditional activities such as hunting, fishing and trapping. Three CHRS plaques for the Hayes River will be installed at prominent locations along the river (Norway House, Oxford House and York Factory) with local community celebrations planned for later in the summer.

The Hayes is the longest naturally flowing river in Manitoba. The CHRS designation is for the entire 600 kilometre fur-trading route used by the Hudson Bay Company between Norway House National Historic Site of Canada near Lake Winnipeg and York Factory National Historic Site of Canada on Hudson Bay. It encompasses a portion of the east channel of the Nelson River, the Echimamish and Hayes Rivers. It cuts through a pristine landscape of granite outcrops and boreal forest in the south, traversing the Precambrian Shield, before it makes its way through ancient marine sediments and taiga forest in the north to reach the bay.

At the ceremony, Minister Struthers also released the management plan for the Hayes River. The plan, required to achieve Canadian Heritage River status, presents an integrated resource management program that will deal with water quality, public awareness, natural and cultural heritage, and recreational use. 

“With all people embracing the common goals of this plan for the Hayes and incorporating these goals in their own activities, we can achieve a level of care for the river that is befitting its designation as a Canadian Heritage River,” said Struthers.

Today’s ceremony was held in conjunction with Paddle Manitoba’s “Paddlefest” at Fort Whyte Centre. Hundreds of paddling enthusiasts were in attendance to celebrate Canadian Rivers Day, rivers and all forms of paddling.

The Canadian Heritage Rivers System is Canada’s national river conservation program. It is a cooperative program of the governments of Canada, all ten provinces and three territories. The objectives of the CHRS are to give national recognition to Canada’s outstanding rivers and to ensure long-term management that conserves their natural, cultural and recreational values.

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BACKGROUNDER

HAYES RIVER DESIGNATED AS CANADIAN HERITAGE RIVER

The historic Hayes River fur-trade route in northeastern Manitoba, stretching from York Factory on Hudson Bay to Norway House near Lake Winnipeg, has been designated as a Canadian Heritage River and added to the Canadian Heritage Rivers System (CHRS).

This 600-kilometre route encompasses the Hayes River, the Echimamish River and the East Channel of the Nelson River from Norway House to the mouth of the Echimamish. This route is an outstanding example of river heritage in Canada.  These rivers flow through what are still some of the most pristine natural areas of Manitoba featuring the flora and fauna of the boreal forest and the Hudson Bay coast. It was the main travel artery for the Hudson Bay Company’s fur trade industry for almost 250 years. The route also presents a unique opportunity for wilderness river travel and sport fishing in an area rich in fur trade history.

York Factory National Historic Site of Canada marks the northern end of the route.  York Factory was established by the Hudson’s Bay Company in 1684, and until 1957, was an important trading post, trans-shipment depot and administrative centre for the fur trade. In addition, from 1812 to the late 1850s, it was the main entry point for European immigrants to Western Canada.

Norway House National Historic Site of Canada marks the other end of the route.  It was another important Hudson’s Bay Company post, and is now the site of the vibrant First Nation community of Norway House.

The Hayes flows through some of the most pristine natural areas of Manitoba.  It is home to polar bear, wolverine, woodland caribou, the ivory gull, sturgeon, brook trout, beluga whales, bald eagles and moose, as well as a wide range of other wildlife. Traveling from south to north, its banks are lined with dense spruce forests, which change to a mosaic of stunted black spruce, tamarack and bogs. The river’s physical characteristics include whitewater rapids, large lake systems, waterfalls, deep valleys and gorges, as well as tidal flats.

Today the Hayes River offers visitors and local people recreational and heritage experience opportunities including canoeing and boating, hunting, fishing, and learning about Canada’s fur trade.

The Hayes River flows through the traditional areas of Norway House, Bunibonibee (Oxford House), Shamattawa and York Factory First Nations.  These communities continue their long established traditions of hunting, fishing and trapping. 

The river continues to be an important travel route for those living along it.  It is inextricably linked to the culture of these First Nations.  The river is linked to the future of the First Nations as they seek to conserve the land and gain economic development.

The Hayes River has been host to some economic drivers in the region through tourism associated with the sport fishing lodges that lie along the river and the outfitted canoe trippers that travel the river.  There is also significant economic activity in the mineral exploration that occurs in several locations along the river.

As part of the CHRS process, a management plan has been developed for the Hayes. The goal of the plan is to “complement and apply existing processes for cooperation and integrated resource management that will recognize, promote and sustain the natural heritage, cultural heritage and recreational values for which the Hayes River was nominated to the Canadian Heritage Rivers System.”

The plan will be implemented through the cooperation and participation of federal and provincial management agencies, First Nations, the private sector and public stakeholders.  It outlines management intentions and planned actions for the river in several key areas, including: water flow and water quality; public understanding, awareness and interpretation; integrity of natural heritage features and processes; integrity of cultural heritage features; and public enjoyment and recreational use.

The Hayes’ nomination to CHRS and management plan were developed with the support and assistance of the various resource branches of Manitoba Conservation; Manitoba Water Stewardship; Manitoba Industry, Economic Development and Mines; Manitoba Culture, Heritage and Tourism; Manitoba Hydro; Parks Canada; the federal Department of Fisheries and Oceans; the staff and councils of Norway House, Bunibonibee, Shamattawa and York Factory First Nations; and other interested Manitobans.

CHRS was established in 1984 by the federal, provincial and territorial governments to conserve and protect the best examples of Canada’s river heritage, give them national recognition, and encourage the public to enjoy and appreciate them. A 15-member national board, made up of private citizens and senior officials from government departments responsible for the protection of the Canadian environment, administers the program.

The goals of the program are to promote, conserve and enhance Canada's river heritage, foster responsible river stewardship, and ensure that Canada's leading rivers are managed in a sustainable manner. Local citizens often champion the program, and may be responsible for the management of Canadian Heritage Rivers. Federal, provincial and territorial governments work with citizens to achieve these common goals.

The success of the CHRS program depends on voluntary participation, partnership, cooperation and community involvement. Within this spirit of trust and goodwill, governments have pledged to work in partnership with the public and one another to build a Canadian Heritage Rivers System that truly reflects the diversity and beauty of Canada's rivers.

Canadian Heritage Rivers are the gems of Canada’s vast array of rivers, beacons of our natural and cultural heritage. To be designated as a Canadian Heritage River, a river must meet strict guidelines and standards, and be shown to possess the requisite natural values, historical importance and recreational potential. There must also be strong public support for its designation.

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