News Release

Yukon’s Three Rivers Project a Finalist for Canadian Environment Award

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May 15, 2007 – Whitehorse – The Yukon’s Three Rivers Project, organized by the Yukon Chapter of the Canadian Parks and Wilderness Society (CPAWS) is a finalist in the conservation category for the prestigious annual Canadian Environment Award. Launched in 2003, the Three Rivers Project included more than 100 participants and contributors from Yukon communities and across Canada.

The announcement today by Canadian Geographic Magazine recognizes CPAWS-Yukon’s contribution to northern conservation through its ambitious and innovative work on the Three Rivers Journey; the group art exhibition, Three Rivers: wild waters, sacred places; the book Three Rivers: the Yukon's Great Boreal Wilderness; and ongoing work to conserve and protect the Wind, Snake and Bonnet Plume Rivers within the Peel watershed.

“We’re thrilled that the Three Rivers Project is receiving national recognition, and are proud to be among the many Yukoners who contributed their energy, vision and talents to this exciting endeavor,” said Juri Peepre, project coordinator.

The award nomination coincides with the final event of a 12 city cross-Canada tour, Journey to the Yukon's Three Rivers, to be held this Thursday evening in Whitehorse. Organized by CPAWS, in partnership with Mountain Equipment Co-op and Yukonwild, the Journey to the Yukon's Three Rivers has invited audiences from coast to coast to discover the wild waters and sacred places of the Yukon’s great boreal wilderness. The Three Rivers project is part of an ambitious national effort to conserve Canada’s boreal forest ecosystem.

“It has been inspiring to have the Yukon’s Three Rivers story received with such eagerness everywhere we visited. Canadians are fascinated with the beauty and mystery of Yukon’s clean flowing rivers and intact boreal wilderness, but also care deeply about its future,” said Juri Peepre. “Whether it was Montreal, Halifax, St. John’s, Saskatoon or Calgary, people lined up for their chance to support conservation in the Three Rivers.”

Contact: Theresa Gulliver, CPAWS-Yukon 393-8080 ext 8

Background

The Three Rivers Project was conceived to introduce Yukoners and Canadians to the treasures of the Peel watershed and the Three Rivers; to see and interpret the landscape in different ways and show how aboriginal cultures, wilderness, art and nature are connected.

In 2003, 37 participants from the Yukon and across Canada completed simultaneous river trips down the Wind, Snake and Bonnet Plume Rivers of the Peel watershed. The Three Rivers Journey included people from the communities of Mayo and Ft. McPherson, visual artists, writers, musicians, journalists, photographers, conservationists and scientists. At the end of the Journeys, at the confluence of the Snake River and the Peel, the participants were met by a large contingent of Gwich'in and Northern Tutchone people for an Elder's Gathering and traditional feast. Read more about the project here.

The participants on the Three Rivers Journey then wrote the stories, poems and original music; and, created the spectacular images that inspired a beautiful and informative book on protecting the mountains, forests and rivers of the Canadian North. A British Columbia Book Prize finalist, the Three Rivers: The Yukon's Great Boreal Wilderness is an anthology of photographs, art and written works with such notables as Margaret Atwood, John Ralston Saul and Brian Brett, along with Yukon writers such as Sarah Locke and Peter Lesniak. Yukon photographers included Fritz Mueller, Marten Berkman, Jannik Schou, Juri Peepre, Paul Nicklen, Peter Mather, and Cathy Archbould.

The Three Rivers project also included production of an award-winning short art film by Marten Berkman, Three Rivers: wild waters, sacred places documenting the experiences of 8 Canadian artists who participated in the Three Rivers Journey. Yukon artists Jane Isakson and Joyce Majiski participated in the Three Rivers Journey, and their work is part of the national group art exhibition.