Two northern First Nations have agreed to work together to protect the waters that flow across both of their traditional lands, in light of increased mining activity in the Peel River area.

Mining companies have been exploring for metals and minerals on the Peel River watershed in the Yukon. That has Gwich'in communities, downstream in the Northwest Territories, worried about pollution affecting their drinking water.

Last week, the Na-Cho Nyak Dun Nation in Mayo, Yukon, agreed to manage the watershed jointly with the Gwich'in.

"We're not opposed to development at all, but we need to be assured that the land is protected," Na-Cho Nyak Chief Simon Mervyn told CBC News.

"The First Nation is looking really desperately for something to sustain their existence into the future, and the land is all we got."

Concerned about staking

Mervyn said prospectors have been busy on his First Nation's traditional land, looking for paydirt that could produce gold, silver, ore, uranium and other valuable minerals.

"We are concerned about the staking activity that's going on up in the watershed area," he said. "It's really getting out of hand."

Gwich'in living in communities like Aklavik, N.W.T., get their drinking water and fish from the Peel River watershed. For that reason, leaders in those communities have raised alarms about mining on the Yukon side of the river.

"You know, they wonder what they're eating, or whether the water is safe to drink," said Charlie Furlong, president of a Gwich'in council in Aklavik.

"We've long had concerns about the type of pollution that may be going into these rivers."

Mervyn said his First Nation's talks with the Gwich'in will be formalized in an accord that will lay out exactly how they plan to make joint decisions about development on the watershed.

Specifics of that accord will be worked out in the new year, he added.

Furlong said talks between Na-Cho Nyak Dun Nation and the Gwich'in mark a good first step.

"It's a long time coming, but I think there's still work to be done to make sure that these agreements are implemented by, you know, various government and other agencies," he said.