In April and May 2010, Albertans were invited to share their feedback on a proposal to nominate Aisinai'pi / Writing-on-Stone Provincial Park as a World Heritage Site.
The southern Alberta provincial park encompasses the highest concentration and greatest diversity of rock art on the North American Plains. The park's proposed world heritage site nomination as a cultural landscape would provide international recognition of the province's efforts to preserve Blackfoot First Nations culture. The global designation would also generate increased tourism to the area.
Alberta Tourism, Parks and Recreation is preparing the nomination package for Inscription of Aisinai'pi / Writing-on-Stone Provincial Park on the World heritage Site List in collaboration with Alberta Culture and Community Spirit and the Blackfoot First Nations with advice from Parks Canada. For further information on this nomination please see the FAQ sheet.
The World Heritage Site nomination proposal was presented to the public at information sessions on April 21 in Milk River and on April 22 in Lethbridge. Albertans were also invited to email their feedback during a 60 day comment period that ended May 31, 2010. Thank you to everyone who provided feedback.
All of the information gathered from public feedback has been reviewed. Please take a look at "What We Heard".
Alberta Tourism, Parks and Recreation will complete the World Heritage Site nomination proposal to submit to UNESCO.
The preliminary draft nomination package has been forwarded to Parks Canada for review and approval. The preliminary draft will be ready for submission to the World Heritage Committee in February 2011. The World Heritage Committee will make a final decision on the proposed nomination of Aisinai'pi / Writing-on-Stone Provincial Park in the summer of 2012.
Alberta Tourism, Parks and Recreation will continue to work with First Nations, the public and stakeholders on any issues, and will keep Albertans informed as the nomination process progresses.
Should you have any questions or require additional information on this initiative, please contact Keith Bocking, Acting Cypress/Writing-on-Stone District Manager at 403-529-3161 or Rosemary Jones, Senior Parks Planner at 403-388-7703.
Media inquiries may be directed to Camille Weleschuk at 780-427-2206.
