Pimachiowin Aki

Pimachiowin Aki is a UNESCO-recognized world located on the northern edge of the semi-arid Great Plains that first appeared in the media in 2014. It means ‘spirit of the bear’ or ‘bear soul’ in Cree, and it refers to the universal beliefs held by Inuit about respecting bears as fellow human beings. Recognising Pimachiowin Aki as a UNESCO World Heritage Site is not just symbolic. It signifies a serious effort toward protecting this important part of the Inuit culture, which has been severely threatened by resource extraction and encroaching settlement on traditional lands. 

Read on to learn more about Pimachiowin Aki’s background, its meaning and how it came to be recognised by UNESCO as an intangible heritage site.

What is Pimachiowin Aki and the Milk River Valley?

The semi-arid northern frontier of the Great Plains is home to the UNESCO-recognized name “Pimachiowin Aki,” which was first used by the public in 2014. Inuit revered bears as fellow human beings, and the term “spirit of the bear” or “bear soul” in Cree refers to this reverence. In addition, the word is pronounced “spirit of the bear.” The Milk River Valley is a cultural landscape that is a component of the broader Pimachiowin Aki cultural environment. It has a diversified terrain that consists of vernal pools, woods, and grasslands, and it is home to a variety of rare and endangered species, such as the Woodland Caribou and the Pallid Sphinx Moth. It is especially interesting from a cultural aspect because it was home to eleven distinct Indigenous communities.

Why Pimachiowin Aki Matters

Before European settlement, the Great Plains were home to Indigenous communities who practised nomadic lifestyles, moving with the seasons and following the animals they hunted. This was a practice that had existed for thousands of years and was deeply tied to the culture and identity of the people living there.

Background and Topography of this Cultural Landscape

The Milk River Valley, which is part of the larger Pimachiowin Aki cultural landscape, has a diverse topography of this cultural landscape of vernal pools, forests and grasslands that is home to rare and endangered species like the Pallid Sphinx Moth and the Woodland Caribou. It is also a culturally significant area home to 11 Indigenous communities. These communities sustained themselves by hunting and fishing and maintained strong ties to their land. Their relationship with the land was deeply rooted in tradition and spirituality, and it was based on a close observation of nature. 

The Milk River Valley itself is surrounded by the Rocky Mountains to the west, the Porcupine Hills to the south, and the Canadian prairies to the north. It is a remote and rich landscape in wildlife, and it is here that the Inuit’s interdependence with nature was most evident. This can be seen in the archaeological record, which shows that the Inuit people used every part of the animals they hunted. They made tools and clothing from the fur, bones, and horns of animals, and they used their fat and blood for fuel.

Who Decided to Protect Pimachiowin Aki?

An interdisciplinary group of academics and conservationists recognised the need to protect Pimachiowin Aki due to the threat posed by the oil and gas industry, as well as the encroaching settlement on traditional lands. They took their case to the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO), which was considering adding Pimachiowin Aki to its list of Intangible Cultural Heritage sites.

UNESCO’s Importance in Protecting Culture

UNESCO was founded after the Second World War, when the world realised that, to prevent such atrocities from happening again, it was necessary to promote the free flow of ideas and build networks between different cultures. The organisation’s mission is to build a better future for all through “education, the sciences, culture and peace,” and it fosters cross-cultural understanding and cooperation by creating networks between people of different nations who share knowledge and expertise. The work that UNESCO does is crucial for the future of humanity, and it provides a network for scholars, educators and policymakers to share knowledge and ideas that will help us meet the challenges of the future.

Conclusion

The recognition of Pimachiowin Aki as a UNESCO World Heritage Site is not just symbolic. It signifies a serious effort toward protecting this important part of the Inuit culture, which has been severely threatened by resource extraction and encroaching settlement on traditional lands. With this recognition, the Inuit people have a powerful tool in their fight to protect their cultural identity, and the world has an opportunity to experience a culture that is rich in tradition and closely tied to the land.