2.7 Present Park Use

Management Plan

2.7 Present Park Use

Inuvialuit have lived on Banks Island and in the area of Aulavik National Park for generations. Because the distance to the park from Sachs Harbour requires two to three days of travelling, overall use levels are low within the park. Subsistence hunting may draw a few parties per season to the park. Subsistence usage (which includes trapping) in the park by Inuvialuit is protected in the ANPEA (2.01) and the IFA (14.(6)) and (23).

Sandhill crane
© Parcs Canada

Two cabins are the only permanent structures in the park. One at Nangmagvik Lake, generally known as the Polar Bear cabin, was built in 1987 by the Government of the Northwest Territories who used it as a base camp for wildlife research (see 9.3). An older cabin, generally referred to as the Green cabin, is situated near the southern park boundary along the Thomsen River. It is believed to have been built in the 1950s by the Geological Survey of Canada, and is presently in a poor state of repair.

Wilderness seekers come to the park to enjoy the rugged terrain, canoe the Thomsen, experience culture, or hike the land. Currently, back country visitor use levels are low, with annual visitation ranging up to twenty visitors. Periodic ice-breaking cruise ship visits along the north coast of the park can increase visitation up to 100 visitors per year. Because the park is in its infancy, the present visitation levels are not considered to be an indication of either potential visitation or carrying capacity.

Researchers in the natural and cultural sciences, from both provincial and federal governments, are continuing work on a number of projects in the park. In 1996, Parks Canada established two permanent weather monitoring stations in the park. These stations will provide important baseline information on precipitation, temperature, and other basic weather information.

The Canadian Wildlife Service administers the Banks Island Migratory Bird Sanctuary No. 2 which occupies the northern portion of the park (see Map 2 - Aulavik National Park.) It was established in 1961 to protect moulting and staging habitat of brant and snow geese. Section 4.2.3 and Appendix E address the role of the bird sanctuary in the park.