A Parks Canada team member poses on a hike at Nááts'ihch'oh National Park Reserve in the Northwest Territories/Parks Canada

Parks Canada is looking for a new boss for Nááts'ihch'oh National Park Reserve in Tulita, Northwest Territories who is keen to work in an isolated community and comfortable taking float planes and helicopters to the fly-in park.

Named after a mountain called Nááts'įhch'oh (a powerful place for the people of the Sahtu), the park reserve was established in 2014 and is one of the newest additions to Canada’s national park system. It protects 4,895 square kilometers (1,889 square miles) of the upper South Nahanni River watershed near the Yukon border in the traditional territory of the Sahtu Dene and Métis. It is remote and mountainous, and home to grizzly bear, Dall’s sheep, mountain goats and woodland caribou. The park offers spectacular paddling, packrafting and hiking opportunities.

People have until Jan. 15 to apply for the job as Park/Site Manager II — known locally as the park superintendent — and must have legal status to work in Canada (Canadian citizenship, permanent resident status or work permit).

“This is a challenging but rewarding position that will allow the successful candidate to explore an amazing part of Canada and to work with the Sahtu Dene and Métis of the Tulita District,” Parks Canada said in a posting for the job.

Hiking in Nááts'ihch'oh National Park Reserve in the Northwest Territories/Fritz Mueller, Parks Canada

The salary is listed as $85,742 to $92,694 ($63,000 to $68,000 USD) plus Isolated Post Allowances. The superintendent must:

• Manage and maintain relationships with Indigenous partners, tourism stakeholders and regional government partners.

• Manage the financial and human resources for the park (about six summer staff/three full time employees – including two functional supervisors).

• Manage and mentor staff, including hiring, developing work plans and training plans, coordinating essential training, and managing performance.

• Prepare reports and briefing material.

• Lead visitor experience and business licensing programs.

• Serve as Parks Canada’s lead for the park Management Committee.

• Deliver on commitments in both the park’s Impact and Benefit Plan and the Park Management Plan.

Caribou roam Nááts'ihch'oh National Park Reserve/Parks Canada

The superintendent must work well independently and with minimal guidance to administer complex logistics from a remote town.

The headquarters for Nááts’įhch’oh is in the hamlet of Tulita (“where the waters meet”) at the confluence of the Great Bear and Mackenzie Rivers. A new visitor center/office building is slated to be built in 2024.

Tulita’s 500 people are predominantly Sahtu Dene and Métis. There is a general store, post office, gas station, school, library, gym, fitness centre, arena (seasonal), swimming pool (seasonal), hotel, airport, RCMP detachment and health centre.

The isolated community is accessible year-round by air and by ice road in the winter. Summers have long days with almost perpetual daylight. Paddling the Bear River under the midnight sun is a top summer experience. Winter activities include aurora viewing, snowshoeing and cross-country skiing.

The successful candidate will work in Tulita and sometimes in the park reserve. All field work will involve overnight camping in tents since there are no facilities or infrastructure. 

In accordance with the Nááts’įhch’oh National Park Reserve Impact and Benefit Plan, preference may be given to qualified members from the Tulita Land Corp., Fort Norman Métis Land Corp, and Norman Wells Land Corp.

Preference may be given to candidates who also have:

• Knowledge of Sahtu Dene and Métis culture, society, language and way of life.

• Knowledge of the Sahtu Dene and Métis Comprehensive Land Claim Agreement.

• Knowledge of Nááts’įhch’oh National Park Reserve.

• Knowledge of reconciliation as it relates to Parks Canada.