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Bloodvein River First Nation has become an active member of Pimachiowin Aki Corp., joining with four other First Nations to have a portion of the Manitoba-Ontario boreal forest designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Bloodvein River’s decision means that additional lands will be added to the project planning area. Bloodvein River spokesperson William Young says he anticipates that more than 50 per cent of his community’s traditional territory will be added to the 40,000 square kilometres currently in the World Heritage Site project area.

Located 210 kilometres north of Winnipeg, Bloodvein River First Nation sits on three kilometres of shoreline on the east side of Lake Winnipeg, directly north of the Bloodvein River, and is home to about 1,500 residents both on and off the reserve.

“Our community knows that a World Heritage Site can help protect the boreal forest and our culture. We want to be closely involved in the development of the nomination to UNESCO and in the future management of this potential new World Heritage Site,” says Chief Frank Young, who joins representatives from Pikangikum First Nation of Ontario, the Manitoba communities of Poplar River, Pauingassi and Little Grand Rapids and the Manitoba and Ontario governments on the board of directors of Pimachiowin Aki Corp.

Pimachiowin Aki spokesperson Sophia Rabliauskas says everyone is pleased that Bloodvein River is participating in the process. “Having Bloodvein River fully involved allows us to do an even better job of building the nomination that will show this land deserves recognition by UNESCO,” says Rabliauskas

The UNESCO nomination document is due in 2012.

— Submitted by Gord Jones,

project manager, Pimachiowin Aki