Vuntut Gwitchin First Nation Settlement

Project Snapshot

Project Overview

Introduction

In 2014, the Vuntut Gwitchin First Nation (VGFN) commissioned Underhill Geomatics to conduct a legal survey of settlement lands in Old Crow, Yukon. The goal was to define identifiable parcels for residential and commercial use within designated settlement areas.

Project Challenges

Accurately surveying over 230 individual parcels in a northern community required logistical planning, field expertise, and strict adherence to Canada Lands legal survey standards. Each parcel needed to be clearly monumented and legally defensible for future development purposes.

Underhill’s Approach

Underhill surveyed and monumented 232 parcels within parcels C-1A and C-3A/D of the VGFN settlement area. Each parcel boundary was posted with legal survey markers, and the resulting plans were filed in the Canada Lands Survey Records (CLSR). These plans give VGFN a clear legal foundation for issuing leases or allocating land for residential and commercial use.

Notable Outcomes

• 232 legally surveyed and monumented parcels completed 
• Survey plans filed in Canada Lands Survey Records 
• Enabled VGFN to plan and allocate land for housing and economic development 
• Flexible for future uses, including registered leases 

Technical Highlights

• Legal surveys conducted under Canada Lands Survey System 
• Boundary monumentation with legal survey markers 
• Detailed parcel definition for internal land allocation 
• Survey plans prepared and officially registered in CLSR 
• Community-based planning support for self-determined land use 

Project Impact

Underhill’s legal surveys provided VGFN with a solid foundation for self-directed land use and development. By delivering 232 clearly defined and registered parcels, we helped enable housing, leasing, and economic planning within Old Crow. This work supports long-term community sovereignty and practical land governance for future generations.