Ivvavik National Park of Canada

Ivvavik, meaning ‘a place for giving birth, a nursery', in Inuvialuktun, the language of the Inuvialuit, is the first national park in Canada to be created as a result of an aboriginal land claim agreement. The park protects a portion of the calving grounds of the Porcupine caribou herd and represents the Northern Yukon and Mackenzie Delta natural regions. Ivvavik National Park is a national park located in Yukon, Canada. Meaning "nursery" or "birthplace" in Inuvialuktun, is the first national park to be established as a result of a land claim agreement with its natives. Protecting a portion of the calving grounds of the Porcupine caribou herd, the park allows only a minimal number of people to visit per year. On the shore of the Beaufort Sea, there is abundant game for the wolves and bears who co-habit the area. The Arctic National Wildlife Refuge lies just across the border in Alaska. On the south-east, Ivvavik National Park borders Vuntut National Park, established in 1995. Due to land claims negotiations, Vuntut is still quite undeveloped and has no roads or developed trails. While Ivvavik is open-year round, visitors are strongly encouraged to avoid visiting during winter. The best time for a trip is during March and April, when days are longer and the temperatures are warmer. Keep in mind that extremely cold temperatures can still occur from mid-September to mid-May. Plan a trip for summer and be sure to pack your sunglasses. With twenty-four hours of daylight for almost the entire summer, visitors have a rare opportunity to camp and hike at any time of the day or night.