Tahltan Territory Travel Restrictions

Thursday, 23 April 2020 17:37

The Tahltan government in North-Western B.C. is advising hunters, wildlife enthusiasts & non-residents not to travel to Tahltan Territory during COVID-19 virus and pandemic.

The Tahltan Central government issued the news release yesterday, April 22nd, 2020.

The three main communities are Telegraph Creek, Dease lake, and Iskut as well as Good Hope Lake located on or off the Stewart Cassiar Highway just south of Watson Lake.

The release says, Tahltan Territory’s remote location makes this region of British Columbia among the most vulnerable in Canada. With limited healthcare facilities, a lack of adequate RCMP resources, and large numbers of Elders, COVID-19 Chad Norman Day president of the Tahltan Central Government says outsiders visiting right now is a grave threat the Tahltan Nation takes extremely seriously.

President Day says, the closest hospital from Tahltan Territory is about 600km away...and with a limited amount of aircraft, airport infrastructure, and pilots available for any emergency medical evacuations.

He says local clinics have very limited staff, desperately needed for our local communities and Tahltan people.

Day says , there is no longer a functional pharmacy in Tahltan Territory during this time, therefore, the Tahltan Nation is respectfully asking all hunters, wildlife enthusiasts and all non-residents, to refrain from visiting Tahltan Territory or any Tahltan communities during this time.

Only those providing essential services or strictly following approved COVID-19 prevention measures should be going to Tahltan Territory and only if they have no other option.

The Tahltan Central Government’s Wildlife Department and Wildlife Guardians will be patrolling Tahltan Territory and asking all visitors to follow appropriate procedures or leave if they choose to ignore the Provincial Health Officer COVID-19 guidelines.

The Tahltan Nation’s Territory spans just under 96-thousand square km of Northwest British Columbia or the equivalent of 11 per cent of the province.

Tahltan Territory includes 70 per cent of BC’s Golden Triangle – a world-class mining jurisdiction with a thriving mineral exploration sector. Tahltan Territory is home to three of BC’s 16 operating mines or their shared footprint, and to approximately 41 per cent of BC’s exploration activities by expenditure.

For more information, visit: www.tahltan.org.