About

  • Gonaewo video: In this video released in July 2022, Elder John B. Zoe contextualizes the Tlicho Agreement through a historical lens, and how the treaty relates to continuing to ensure Tlicho connections to land, language and culture.
  • Find out more about the Lands Theme here.

Ongoing/Recent activities

  • A video entitled Gonaewo has been released, contextualizing modern treaty implementation as part of Tłįchǫ self-determination, and was presented by John B. Zoe and Sadetlo Scott at the ArcticNet conference in December 2022 was screened at the 2023 LCAC Conference;
  • Language revitalization work has been undertaken in collaboration with the Tłįchǫ Government, relating primarily to place-name research. In 2022 it resulted in an updated database of regional place-names for use by the Tłįchǫ.
  • A major project in partnership with the Yellowhead Institute called "Treaty Future" is in progress. It examines common themes in modern treaty implementation in relation to lands across two modern treaty areas: Nunavut and Nunatsiavut. Community research workshops haven been held in the Torngait Mountains and Iqaluit. Multiple Yellowhead publications, including an 8,000 word Special Report, are set to be published in Summer 2024. 
  • Also in partnership with the Yellowhead Institute is an interactive treaty map, that will include a significant section devoted to public education on modern treaty implementation. It will graphically represent all modern treaties in Canada and describe the context, terms, and importantly implementation challenges with each. It will be published in March 2024.
  • Based on the collaboration between the Land Relationship theme of MTIRP, Yellowhead and Indigenous collaborators in modern treaty contexts, a unique methodological framework has been produced and will be described in a future publication, co-authored by those collaborators.

  • This work with Yellowhead Institute has resulted in a number of community facing publications that address various elements of modern treaty implementation, ranging from self-government, education, environmental monitoring, infrastructure and cultural revitalization. Discussions with collaborators revealed that the land elements of modern treaties were inter-connected with these issues and difficult to separate. These publications include: 

  • Finally, Yellowhead Institute is also currently producing an additional Special Report on Food Sovereignty in Nunavut (edited by Hayden King, Kunuk Inutiq and Shari Fox) with 17 Inuit contributors. While the report is not specifically about land claim implementation, it draws on and covers elements it, with a focus specifically on the hunting economy in a modern treaty context. It is also set to be published in Spring 2024.

  • Over the course of the life of the grant, the Land Relationship theme has employed and mentored ten Northern Indigenous undergraduate and graduate students and community researchers: Janine Lightfoot (Inuit), Megan Dicker (Inuit), Autumn Schnell (Gwichin), Crystal Fraser (Gwichin), Noah Nochasak (Inuit), Sedetlo Scott (Tlicho), Patricia Johnston-Castle (Inuit), Dakota Erutse (Sahtu Dene), Killaq Enuaraq-Strauss (Inuit) and Jessica Simpson (Tlicho).

  • Over the course of the life of the grant, nearly 50 community-based, Northern Indigenous experts were engaged to generate accessible, public-facing knowledge mobilization products related to land relationships in modern treaty contexts.
  • Land Back Webinar - Together with the Yellowhead Institute, the Lands Theme organized a webinar featuring a panel of Inuk and Gwich'in leaders and thinkers exploring what Land Back can mean in a Modern Treaty context. Find details and a recording of the webinar here.

  • Indigenous Governance Speaker Series - Lands Theme Co-Lead, John B. Zoe  was the January 2022 Speaker in the Indigenous Governance Speaker Series hosted by Yukon University, presenting Tłı̨chǫ 'Gonaewo' (Our Way of Life). Find out more  here.

  • Yellowhead Paper - The Lands Theme is working with the  Yellowhead Institute on a new Red Paper, "Treaty Future". This research, supported by the Modern Treaties Implementation Research Project, is exploring how treaties affect Indigenous relationships to land. Read more here.

  • Politics of the Canoe - Lands Theme Co-Lead, John B. Zoe authored a chapter of the new book, The Politics of the Canoe (2021). Find the book here and view an interview here.

  •  Presentation to NWT Legislative Assembly Committee - In July 2021, Lands Theme Co-Lead, John B. Zoe joined Principal Investigator Dr. Stephanie Irlbacher-Fox to present on UNDRIP and Modern Treaty Implementation to the NWT Legislative Assembly Committee on Reconciliation and Indigenous Affairs.  View the presentation here.

  • Webinar on UNDRIP and Modern Treaties - On June 28, 2021, the Lands theme co-leads Hayden King (Ryerson University) and John B. Zoe (Tlicho Government) participated in the first Gonèk’e (Our Land) webinar, which focused on the relationship between the UNDRIP and modern treaty implementation. Find out more and view the webinar here.

  • Treaty Talks NWT -  In May 2021, Lands Theme Co-Lead, John B. Zoe gave a presentation as part of Treaty Talks NWT, an NWT youth-led speaker series on modern treaties in the NWT.  Find out more here.

  • Edited Volume: Best Practices Implementing Modern Treaties in Canada (2020-present) -  Lands Co-Lead Dr. John B Zoe is joining Principal Investigator Stephanie Irlbacher-Fox to edit a book about ways that LCAC members are implementing Treaties. Read more here.

  • Transitional Governance Project: Tlicho - In 2018, Lands Theme Co-Lead, John B. Zoe presented Tłı̨chǫ 'Gonaewo' (Our Way of Life) as part of the Transitional Governance Project. View the presentation here.

  • Scoping Workshops - Indigenous Relationships to Land - Between October 2-5, 2018, the Indigenous Relationships to Land Theme held two workshops discussing our work to date and seeking future research direction on the implementation of modern treaties. Find out more about these workshops here.