gtc quarterly newsletter/summer issue gtc …...gtc quarterly newsletter/spring issue page 2 summer...

GTC Quarterly Newsletter/Summer Issue

September 1, 2013Gwich’in Tribal Council

Drin Gwiinzii! from the GTC

Summer 2013

GTC

President Address....................2

Vice President Address.............4

COO Address.............................5

Bios..............................................5

Finance Article...........................6

SG British Columbia Trip.........7

GSCI 20th Anniversary.............9

SG National Conference.........15

Sha Gwich’in K’at.

I was elected President of the Gwich’in Tribal Council on Friday, June 22, 2012, and I thank all those who came out to vote and make a difference. It’s been over a year and I am humbled by your support and I am privileged to be given the opportunity to once again serve my people in a meaningful capacity.

First of all, I would like to commend Vice President Norman Snowshoe on the work he has taken on including implementation, self-government, education and training and issues dealing with wildlife and the Yukon. It’s not an easy job, but someone has to do it and who better.

Days after our election, Norman and I called Fred Koe who was supposed to be retired and make him an offer he couldn’t refuse; be our Chief Operating Officer and live in Inuvik, travel to the Gwich’in communities and take part in lots of feasts and dances. We are pleased Fred took the offer as his education, experience and knowledge has proved to be invaluable.

Norman and I both ran on the premise of being transparent, accountable and responsible. One of the first things we did was put your assembly back on CKLB. We are also committed to putting out a

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GTC Quarterly Newsletter/Spring Issue

Summer 2013

quarterly newsletter. Further, we’ve had community information sessions in Edmonton, Fort McPherson, Tsiigehtchic, Yellowknife, Whitehorse, Aklavik and Inuvik. We hope to make the rounds once more before the annual assembly, which will begin on Tuesday, August 20, 2013, in Inuvik.

I would also like to commend the staff of the Gwich’in Tribal Council on their work and on assisting Norm, Fred and I during and after the period of transition. It is important that the day to day operations and activities of the tribal council do not slow down or are interrupted during an election period. And this did not happen, thanks to the staff.

One of the things I’ve learned from my past is that good leadership means surrounding yourself with good people, and that, we hope, is what we are doing. This is not a one or two person show; it’s a group and organizational effort.

As I see it we have a number of issues that we have to deal with.

First is rebuilding the Gwich’in Tribal Council as a whole, and that includes the Gwich’in Settlement Corporation and the Gwich’in Development Corporation. This means re-establishing and rebuilding contacts in government and in the business world. That also means updating our strategic plans, by-laws and policies.

Over the last decade we have not heard much about the Gwich’in Development Corporation; that has to change. Also what has to change, and it’s been talked about for decades, is the separation of business from politics. The object of any development corporation should be to make a profit for its owners. Politics has its place, but we have to know where that place is.

There are a number of projects that may, if they go ahead, help alleviate unemployment and help our people help themselves. These are the Inuvik to Tuk Highway, the Mackenzie Valley Highway, and the fibre optic line. And we hope to play an active and meaningful role in these.

There are three main things that we, at the GTC, have to deal with in the political arena: devolution, self-government, and implementation.

Devolution refers to the transfer of power and control over lands and resources in the NWT to the Government of the NWT. The GTC spent a lot of Gwich’in money on the court case before it was dropped. To date, we have received funding to participate in the negotiations that led to the signing on Tuesday, June 25th in Inuvik. The agreement will take effect on April 1, 2014.

As I said, we should not fear devolution, but embrace it and make it work for us. And by us, I mean the people of the NWT. There are a lot of concerns about devolution, but the fact of the matter is that devolution will bring the decision making process on how we, in the NWT, use and develop and preserve all public lands in the NWT. Nothing in the devolution agreement will adversely affect any treaty or land claim right. And in the end, we, the aboriginal groups in the NWT, will get to share in the resource royalties in the NWT; the only jurisdiction in Canada to do this.

We are also making headway in the area of self-government and have a constitution that was approved by the GTC Board in December as per the

Back row left to right: John Firth, Danny Greenland, Carolyn Lennie, Jozef Carnogursky and in front row, William Koe and President Robert Alexie.

President Robert Alexie

Summer 2013


motion from the assembly. There is still a lot of work to be done and I am confident Norman and his group will bring home a Self-Government Agreement in Principle in the near future.

One of the first things we, as a new executive, did was shut down the Gwich’in camp. This may have been an unpopular move, but the cost of operating the camp was too much and this had to be done. We cannot spend any more Gwich’in money on programs and services that are government’s responsibility. In the next few weeks, Norman shall be taking the lead on setting up a working group to look at the camp and how best to use it and how to fund it.

In the first few weeks of our administration, we took steps to stop spending in the GTC and in GDC where we felt we shouldn’t, but this is not the place to give specifics.

We also met with the Government of the NWT and have an inter-governmental agreement and another on contracting in the settlement area. We will meet with the Premier and Cabinet twice a year on issues of common concern and had our first meeting in Inuvik in December and another in Yellowknife in July.

In the 1990s, shortly after our claim was signed, we, the Board of Directors of the GTC, set up a by-law for the Gwich’in Settlement Corporation to ensure that the financial compensation would be protected for use by future generations. This by-law was amended or rescinded the following year and this gave the executive and/or the board the authority to use land claims funds as they saw fit without taking it to the assembly. This will have to change, again.

This year, at the assembly, I shall be taking the lead in explaining our financial statements, including our ‘Legacy Fund’; what it means and where the shortfall was spent over the years. The Legacy Fund refers to our compensation and what is should be worth. Over the years, we have come close to meeting the Legacy Fund benchmark, but have not reached it, nor kept above it. We’ve used the funds for economic development (the GDC), for social programs (the Gwich’in camp) and for administration (the GTC, GSCI and the DGOs).

I have been spending some time on the Gwich’in Development Corporation and its subsidiaries, and we are slowly making headway, but there’s a lot left to do and to accomplish. I am not going to sugar coat or embellish the truth. The truth is our development corporation leaves a lot to be desired and this too has to change. And it will as soon as we separate business from politics.

One of the big moves we make this year was to get our trucking company back in business. In February of this year, I gave the go ahead to set up a new company, Dinjii Zhuh Trucking Ltd., then obtain financing, acquire equipment, negotiate contracts, and get back into business. Contrary to popular belief, we did not use land claims monies for this project. We got loans from the bank.

Left to right: Charles McNeely, Clifford Daniels, Gary Bailey, Vince Teddy, President Robert Alexie, Charlie Chocolate, Jake Heron and Wayne Kakfwi.


Summer 2013


As of the end of June, when I wrote this report, there is still the matter of our former trucking company, or what’s left of it. I cannot comment on that in this report, but shall give an up-to-date, if warranted, behind closed doors and in-camera.

As mentioned, I hope to be taking time before the assembly to go to each community to discuss the GTC and GDC financial situation and what we are doing.

Remember, this is your tribal council and your land claim and you have the right to know.

In closing, I would like to congratulate all those who made tremendous strides in their lives this year, especially the graduates. Special congratulations to our own Norma Blake and Bradley Charlie, who took the initiative to further his education down in Texas. Yee-haw!

I would also like to extend my condolences to those who lost loved ones. There are too many to name, but I would like tomention John Kendo, Elizabeth Blake, Frank Firth,

Albert Peterson, Shirley Firth-Larsson, Michael Coyen and Cecilia Pascal.

A long time ago, soon after we signed our land claim agreement, we set up was the Gwich’in Enrolment Board whose job it was to enrol Gwich’in and to accept applications from those who, although not Gwich’in according to the land claims, lived among our people and who could be community accepted. Cecilia was one of the first people to submit her application and the first person to be accepted. But this was just a formality; Cecilia was and is a Gwich’in.

Once again, I thank you for your support and I thank my wife and family for allowing me the honour and privilege of serving my people.

Haii Cho.

RAjr


Vice-President Address

Norman Snowshoe, GTC Vice-President

This past few months have been extremely busy here at the Gwich’in Tribal Council. The Self Government file is progressing and we have some major milestones completed. We translated the Draft Constitution into the Tetlit and Gwichya Gwich’in dialects. We also did a tour of Self Governing Nations in British Columbia. The information we received on Self Government was invaluable and will help us tremendously with our negotiations. We are also planning a national conference on Self Government starting September 10, 2013. This will be attended by Self Governing Groups across Canada. This is a major event and we hope to see you there. We have done a few community visits to update the Gwich’in on Self Government and will continue to do that throughout the process.

The Peel Land Use Plan is as always an ongoing issue. We are continuing our talks with Yukon Government and the other Northern Yukon First Nations to finalize the Peel Commission Draft

Land Use Plan. We now have legal counsel checking to see if the Yukon Government Process to modify the Commission Land Use Plan was done in accordance with the process established by the Land Claims. We will continue to be steadfast with our position of finalizing the Commission’s Draft Plan until told otherwise by the Annual General Assembly.

The GNWT has undertaken a two reviews that we participated in. One is the Education Renewal and the other is the addictions forum. We provided input into these two initiatives because we want to ensure that our children are receiving the best education they can and also to see if the Addictions Forum will have an impact on our Healing Camp. Right now the camp is closed due to high costs of operations. We will keep you updated on the results of the GNWT reviews when they are available.

Summer 2013


Shawna Nerysoo - Event CoordinatorGood to be back at the Gwich'in Tribal Council working with my fellow co-workers again. I

was the 2012 GTC AGS's coordinator last year, and did some coordinating at the Bi Annual Gwich'in Gathering as well. I'm originally from Fort McPherson, and residing in Inuvik for

the summer, keeping myself busy. If you require any information on the conference please do not hesitate to contact me at the GTC Office.

Be safe and happy berry picking!

Crystal Fraser Gwich'in beneficiary and a PhD Candidate in History at the University of Alberta. Crystal is the daughter of Juliet Bullock, one of the Bullock twins, and Bruce Fraser and the granddaughter of Marka and Richard Bullock. She was raised in Inuvik and spent many childhood summers at Tree River. Crystal is currently in the Inuvik region for the summer. Her PhD project examines the history of education in the region between the years of 1940 and 1996. Crystal is particularly interested in student life and culture and is interviewing local residents about their school experiences and memories. Crystal has made community consultation a priority and asserts that it is very important to include the voices of Aboriginal northerners into the dominant Canadian history narrative. By undertaking such a project, Crystal hopes to shed light on the particularities of region, understandings of colonialism, and the benefits of oral history. If you would like to speak with Crystal, you may contact her at 780-235-8631 or [email protected].

When the new Executive were elected in June, 2012 The Gwich’in Tribal Council (GTC) had lawsuits pending against both the Governments of Canada and NWT about the lack of proper consultation on the Devolution agreement in principle (AIP). After much research and deliberation the GTC Board decided to drop the lawsuit and begin negotiations on Devolution. Subsequently, GTC signed the Devolution AIP in Aklavik on October 12, 2013 which culminated in the signing of the Devolution Agreement in Inuvik on June 25, 2013.

One of the conditions of signing the Devolution AIP was that the GTC and GNWT would negotiate an intergovernmental agreement which would formalize the government -to -government relationship and operationalize the relationship by way of regular meetings of political leadership and senior officials.

Thus, the GTC and GNWT signed an Umbrella Intergovernmental Agreement regarding Intergovernmental Cooperation and Coordination on October 12, 2012. The objectives of this agreement were to:(1) Enhance the practical realization of the government-to-government relationship;

(2) Enhance the day-to-day interaction, cooperation and coordination of the Gwich’in Tribal Council and the GNWT; and(3) To raise issues and resolve concerns in a manner that reflects Gwich’in and public interests.

Both governments also agreed to hold regular meetings of their respective elected officials. Thus the Board of Directors of GTC and the Cabinet of GNWT held two meetings. The first one was in Inuvik on December 10-11, 2012 and the second one was held in Yellowknife on July 3, 2013. At both meeting various topics were raised and both governments agreed on a plan of action to resolve the issues.

Also as part of the GNWT strategy the GTC and GNWT also signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) for contracting within the Gwich’in Settlement Area. In this MOU both governments agreed that their officials will meet twice per year to discuss and review the GNWT’s proposed contracts in the GSA including capital and O&M contracts. The desired outcome is that Gwich’in businesses will be awarded a minimum of 50% of GNWT contracts over the term of the MOU.

I am pleased to report that both the GTC and GNWT governments are respecting and are implementing the terms of these agreements and that the political and working relationships are enhanced.

COO Fred Koe & Bios

Spring 2013


Finance Article

Left to right: Louise Nazon, Evelyn DeBastien, James Wong, Nicolinea Minakis and Joan Kuang

Dear Participants

Initially, I would like to welcome our new Finance Officer – Louise Nazon from Tsiigehtchic and Finance Clerk – Nicolinea Minakis to the dept. Louise has many years of accounting experience and is an asset to our dept. Nicolinea has completed her Office Administration Certificate with the Aurora College and will continue her study for the Diploma Program this fall. This is the busiest time of the year in the Finance Dept. as we are all busy providing information to our Auditors – KPMG, in addition to the heavy daily workload. Their assistance during this busy period is very much appreciated.

In the last few months, we were busy setting up the new company – Dinjii Zhuh Trucking Ltd. in Fort McPherson. It has been very hectic time in arranging the paper work, insurance, recording the new equipments, arranging banking and financing agreement. I would like to express my gratitude to all the finance staff for their hard work during this busy time.

This year, accordingly to the latest Accounting Standards, all lands and buildings held by Gwich’in Tribal Council (GTC) and Gwich’in Development Corporation (GDC) will have to be appraised by professional appraiser to obtain the fair market value. If the fair market value is below the cost of purchase, GTC and GDC will have to write down the cost to reflect the fair market value.

The Gwich’in Settlement Corporation (GSC) had a Board meeting in May and the Board decided to change its global equity investment manager based on the recommendation of Towers Watson, an international firm of Investment Advisors. The objective of the change is to ensure GSC receives the best financial performance from the investment manager and to maximize the wealth creation of the Legacy Fund for our people.

GTC was one of the signatories in the historic event on June 25 on the Devolution Agreement with the Government of NWT and Canada. This is an important step towards self-determination of our own land, water and resources. This is a day of celebration and our leaders have been working very hard to negotiate this Agreement.

I will continue to introduce new initiatives and best practices to improve our ways of doing business. This is to ensure we are using the most economical and efficient methods to create wealth for our people.

I will be travelling to all the communities before the Assembly in August to explain the financial results to our people and at the same time to explain how the Investment Managers manage our Legacy Fund.

I look forward to meeting with all of you in the information session in August.

Mahsi’ Choo!

James Wong, MBA, CA(UK), FCPA, CMA, CGA, CFEChief Financial OfficerJuly 18, 2013

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Summer 2013


Self-Government British Columbia Trip

Gwich’in Self-Government Negotiation Team Visits First Nations in British Colombia

Several members of the Gwich’in self-government team travelled to British Colombia to conduct research and meet with Aboriginal leaders from self-governing First Nations. Travelling to B.C. were GTC Vice-President Norman Snowshoe, DGO Presidents Carolyn Lennie (Tsiigehtchic) and Dan Greenland (Aklavik), and Fort McPherson Youth Representative Bobbi Rose Koe. The team met with representatives of the Assembly of First Nations, the First Nations Education Steering Committee, the Tsawwassen First Nation, the Maa-Nulth First Nations, and the Nisga’a Lisims Government.

On Day 1 of the trip, the team met with Regional Chief Jody Wilson- Raybould of the Assembly of First Nations. Ms. Wilson-Raybould explained that the AFN represents the Indian Bands across Canada, and that she represented more than 200+ such Bands in B.C. The group discussed the importance of understanding the difference between Treaty rights and Indian Act rights, and the situation of the Gwich’in was discussed. “When compared with other First Nations, the situation of the Gwich’in is very special,” explained Vice President Snowshoe. For example, unlike anywhere else, the GNWT runs programs and services for Status Indians, and, unlike

B.C. and many other parts of Canada, the Gwich’in don’t live on reserves.

After meeting with the AFN, the Team met with D e b o r a h J e f f re y, t h e Executive Director of the First Nations Education Steering Committee. Ms. Jeffrey explained that her organization is dedicated to improving educational outcomes for all First Nations students in B.C. Among other impressive achievements, the FNESC

has developed curriculum for high school students that is now being used in the public school system across the province.

The Team spent the rest of the week travelling the province to meet with political leadership from self-governing First Nations. On Tuesday, they met with the Grand Chief of the Tsawwassen First Nation, Bryce Williams, as well as several members of the senior staff of the Tsawwassen government. The Gwich’in representatives learned of various successful capital infrastructure projects the Tsawwassen government has completed since they signed their self-government agreement. One such project was paid for by a $9 million contribution agreement. The topic of Indian status was also discussed and it was explained that with the signing of the agreement Tsawwassen citizens had to give up their tax exemption status in order to allow their government the power to collect taxes.

After eating lunch with Tsawwassen elders, the Team then boarded a ferry to Vancouver Island to meet with representatives of the Maa-Nulth First Nations on Vancouver Island. The Maa-Nulth First Nations are six First Nations that agreed to collectively negotiate a land claim agreement and self-government agreements in the 1990s. The Gwich’in met with the Maa’Nulth First Nations in Port Alberni, then in Ucluelet, where they continued their meetings on the edge of the Pacific Ocean in Cabins built by the First Nation. The President of the Maa-Nulth Society encouraged the Gwich’in to seriously consider the opportunity of self-government, saying, “Our own self-government is creating new memories for our youth.”

GTC Vice President Norman Snowshoe with DGO Presidents Dan Greenland (Aklavik) and Carolyn Lennie (Tsiigehtchic) on the ferry to Vancouver Island.

GTC Vice-President Snowshoe accepts a gift from a Nisga’a carver.

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Self-Government British Columbia Trip

The biggest surprise of the B.C. trip occurred in Port Alberni when one of the representatives of the Maa-Nulth rose to announce he was of Gwich’in Ancestry. “My name is Frank Dragon and I am a proud card carrying Gwich’in person.” Mr. Dragon has not been in the Gwich’in Settlement Area since early childhood; his family lineage traces back to the Firth and the Cardinal families.

The last stop on the B.C. trip was the Nisga’a territory in the North-East of the province. The Gwich’in were greeted by the entire team of Nisga’a national elected leadership, including President Mitchell Stephens.

After eating a wonderful lunch of dried and cooked fish, the Gwich’in spent the afternoon in the Nisga’a Lisims Legislative Assembly learning about the history and experience of the Nisga’a with self-government.

When asked whether he felt self-government was the right thing to do, Nisga’a Chairperson Kevin McKay responded, “There is a dignity that comes with having control over your own people that self-government provides. Also, some of the social ills being suffered by your people can only be remedied when you have this kind of control.”

The B.C. trip is the second trip to visit and learn from self-governing First Nations in other parts of Canada by the Gwich’in self-government negotiation team in two years. Last year, the Team visited several First Nations in Yukon.

Gwich’in Self Government team members pose on the banks of lake in Nisga’a Territory.

GTC representatives with political and senior staff of the Maa-Nulth First Nations. Just outside of Ucluelet, Vancouver Island.

GTC Vice President Norman Snowshoe accepting a gift from Nisga’a Lisims Government Chairperson Kevin McKay.

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Summer 2013


Gwich’in Social & Cultural Institute

Gwich’in Social and Cultural Institute, naghaii 20 nagwiniindhat geenjit shoh iidalih!

Happy 20th Birthday, GSCI!

The Gwich'in Social and Cultural Institute (GSCI) is the cultural and heritage arm of the Gwich’in Tribal Council (GTC), and is directed by a board of directors made up of representatives from Aklavik, Inuvik, Fort McPherson, Tsiigehtchic and GTC. Founded in 1992 by the GTC after the signing of the land claim, it began operation in 1993.

In the twenty years of its existence, the institute has undertaken close to 100 projects, with a focus on traditional place names and mapping Gwich’in use of the land, oral history and legends, ethno-botany, ethno-archaeology, and rejuvenating Gwich’in traditions such as traditional caribou skin clothing.

Sharing results of research is important, and GSCI has published books, reports, maps and posters, and developed web-based exhibits for the internet.

Much of the work has been carried out in partnership with Gwich’in communities, plus government, museums, other First Nations, academic researchers, media, and industry.

The following pages show a few of the many themes and projects that the GSCI has worked on over the last two decades.

For more information, please visit the GSCI’s website (www.gwichin.ca) or contact a staff member in Fort McPherson (867-952-2524 and 867-952-2377), Tsiigehtchic (867-953-3613), or Yellowknife (867-669-9743).

Place names and oral history research

The place names and recording of traditional land use has been at the core of much GSCI research over the past 20 years. In partnership with the communities, GSCI has conducted this research in all four communities, interviewing Elders and other knowledgeable land-users to identify and properly spell and translate the names of 900 rivers, creeks, lakes, fishing locations, mountains, sacred sites, and many other places of significance and

record the oral history associated with these places. This year, on June 21st, the GNWT officially recognized 414 Gwich’in names in the NWT as official names for future maps! See the following link for further information: http://www.pwnhc.ca/gwichin/

Over 220 names have also been submitted for recognition in the Yukon.

Danny Andre and Alestine Andre at Gabe Andre’s camp during the Gwichya Gwich’in Place Names Project 1992.

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Ethno-archaeology and traditional caribou skin clothing projects

Besides recording information on maps, audiotapes and videotapes, the GSCI also deals with tangible material culture, such as artifacts from archaeological sites, or traditionally made items such as caribou skin clothing.

Ethno-archaeology

Ethno-archaeology brings together knowledgeable Elders and archaeologists to identify and record sites from long ago – from fur trade times, or much further back into tsiidaii/ts’iideii (stone age) times. The GSCI has conducted numerous ethno-archaeology projects up the Arctic Red and Peel rivers, in Fort McPherson, and in the Blackstone River and Tombstone Territorial Park areas. During these projects, Gwich’in youth and Elders worked side by side with the GSCI and archaeologists to locate archaeological remains and excavate sites.

Thousands of artifacts and features were found, such as arrowheads, beads, stone tools, cooking hearths, and more.

Caribou skin clothing project

The Gwich’in Traditional Caribou Skin Clothing Project was a partnership between GSCI, the Canadian Museum of Civilization (CMC) and the Prince of Wales Northern Heritage Centre. The project created five reproductions of

a five-piece 19th C. garment from the CMC. These elegant men’s summer outfits are made of caribou skin and decorated with porcupine quills, beads, silver berry seeds and fringes. The clothing reflects Gwich’in women’s great knowledge and skills and are on display in museum quality exhibit cases in all four communities. The fifth garment is in the collection of the PWNHC.

The GSCI hopes that the replication of these centuries-old garments will inspire new generations of Gwich’in to be proud of their unique heritage and stimulate a renewed sense of identity and community.

Elders biography & traditional ecological knowledge projects

Elders Biography Project

The GSCI recorded the life stories of the oldest Gwich’in Elders from 1999-2001. Each Elder told stories about their

Ingrid Kritsch interviewing Hyacinthe Andre and George Niditchie Sr. with Alestine Andre in the Tsiigehtchic Band Office during the Gwichya Gwich’in Place Names Project 1993.

Neil Colin, Ingrid Kritsch, William Teya and Eunice Mitchell along the Peel River during the Teetl’it Gwich’in Place Names Project 1996.

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parents and grandparents, their childhood and life on the land, their residential school experiences, marriages, children, and many other topics. Calendars were produced and an Elders Biography book has been drafted. Some stories are heart breaking, some are uplifting, and some like Alfred Semple as a young boy are just plain funny!

….We started going downhill pretty fast.… sliding down the hill really fast. I suddenly realized that where we were heading for was the tent where everybody was having a [church] service! – Alfred Semple.

Traditional Environmental Knowledge Projects

The GSCI has worked with numerous Elders and other knowledgeable land users to record vital information about the land, plants, wildlife, sometimes including species at risk. Often working with the Gwich’in Renewable Resources Board, these projects have resulted in reports on fish and animals such as Rat River Dolly Varden Char, Boreal Woodland Caribou, and Grizzly Bears. A major TK study on the proposed Mackenzie Gas Project through Gwich’in lands was carried out by GSCI over two and a half years, ending in 2005, and

resulted in a comprehensive report and accompanying maps being presented to the Joint Review Board, ensuring that Gwich’in traditional knowledge was considered in the project assessment.

Special places across the land: National/Territorial Historic Site nominations

Identifying special places across the Gwich’in Settlement Region is an important part of GSCI’s work. Building on the information recorded during the place name projects, the GSCI has worked with community steering committees to nominate special places as both National Historic Sites and Territorial Historic Sites. Nagwichoonjik – the Mackenzie River between Thunder River and

Robert Alexie Sr., Percy Henry, Walter Alexie and Alfred Semple at Knorr’s Cabin during the Tombstone Oral History Project 2003.

Walter Alexie and Melanie Fafard during the Peel River Ethno-Archaeology Project 2000.

Morgan Keevik and Gerald Tetlichi screening the dirt removed from the site in Fort McPherson in 2000 to ensure that small items such as beads and bone fragments have not been overlooked.

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Point Separation – was designated a National Historic Site in 1997 due to its prominent position within the Gwichya Gwich’in cultural landscape. This was one of the first Aboriginal cultural landscapes recognized in Canada and is one of the largest in the country.

In terms of NWT Territorial Historic Sites, eight have been recognized to date: 1) Nataiinlaii (Eight Miles), 2) Nagwichootshik (Mouth of the Peel), 3) Vik’ooyendik (Church Hill), 4) Khaii Luk Tshik (Travaillant Creek), 5) Chigwaazraii, 6) Sreih itsik, Ddhah Zhit Han and Eneekaii Han: Ehdiitat Gwich’in Cultural Landscape, 7) Pokiak, and 8) Knut Lang’s Place.

Work is also on-going to nominate the Mackenzie River as a Canadian Heritage River. the Arctic Red River is already designated a Canadian Heritage River.

Eric Damkiar, Archaeologist, showing flint knapping techniques to Yvonne Andre and Erika Kritsch during the Martin Zheh Ethno-Archaeology Field School 1995.

Eunice Mitchell, Erika Kritsch, Ingrid Kritsch, Walter Alexie and Rober Alexie Sr. at Chii Tsinjahch’uh during the Teetl’it Gwich’in Place Names Project 1996.

Walter Alexie, Richard Thompson, Vanessa Kaye Melanie Fafard examining the bank for artifacts in the Tl’oondih area during the Peel River Ethno-Archaeology Project 2000.

Glass and stone artifacts from MiTu-1: (a) bottle glass fragment,(b) milkglass button, (c) large beads, (d) Cornaline d`Aleppobead, (e) burnt bead, (f) cylindrical beads, (g) small beads, (h)seed beads, (i-j) retouched flake, (l) gunflint.

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Top left: Gwich’in models Charles (Chas) Saddington, Brandon Albert, Adolphus Lennie, Ryan Moore and Ryan Vittrekwa wearing replica outfits at the unveiling ceremony held at the Prince of Whales Northern Heritage Centre in Yellowknife, March 2003. Middle left: Mrs. Mary Kendi, Annie B. Gordon and Louisa Kalinek at the Knut Lang Science Camp 1997. Bottom left: Berna Natsie excavating in the lower levels of the Martin Zheh site up the Arctic Red River in 1996. Top right: Charles (Chas) Saddington, modeling the Inuvik outfit at the completion of the fourth workshop, held in Tsiigehtchic, July 2002. The seamstresses are: Back, left to right: Effie Bella Snowshoe, Maureen Koe, Irene Kendo, Audrey Snowshoe, Agnes Mitchell, Virginia (Loddy) Benoit, Catherine Semple, Terry Remy Sawyer, Shirley Stewart, Karen Wright-Fraser. Front, left to right: Rita Carpenter, Ruth Wright, Lillian Wright. Middle right: Srehtadhadlajj (Point Separation), Gwichya Gwich’in Place Names Project 1994. Bottom right: Cabin at the Mouth of the Peel, 1996.

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How we tell our stories: books, websites, and more

The GSCI records and maps cultural information and makes it public through books (including children’s books), technical reports, legends produced on CD and for the radio, maps, and interactive websites.

MAHSI’ CHOO!

The GSCI’s work would be impossible without the generosity of spirit of all the Elders, youth, and other individuals and organizations who have worked with and provided information and support to the GSCI over the last twenty years. For your assistance and support, we say mahsi’ choo!

Board Members:Norm Snowshoe, Chair, GTC Vice-PresidentAnnie Jane Modeste, Fort McPhersonGladys Alexie, Vice-Chair, Fort McPhersonSarah McLeod-Firth, InuvikRuth Wright, InuvikRenie Stewart, AklavikJohn Norbert, Tsiigehtchic

Staff:Sharon Snowshoe, Executive Director, Fort McPherson (2005-present)Ingrid Kritsch, Research Director (founding Executive Director), Yellowknife (1993-present)Alestine Andre, Heritage Researcher, Tsiigehtchic (1994-present)Kristi Benson, Inuvik (2004-2006) – Heritage affiliate, San Clara, Manitoba since 2006William George Firth, Fort McPherson (2000-present)Margaret Thompson, Fort McPherson (2009-present)

Annie B. Gordon of Aklavik during the MAP community workshop, November 2010.

Summer 2013


Events & Meetings

GTC

Self-

Government

Team

presents

On September 10-12, Gwich’in community leadership, youth and elders will welcome First Nations and Inuit guests from across Canada to participate in a National discussion on the opportunities and challenges linked to Aboriginal self-government.

Aboriginal leaders from B.C., Yukon, Manitoba, Nunavut, Labrador, Nova Scotia and Quebec will give presentations on how they have designed governance structures that work for their people. Youth in attendance will spend some time at the conference and also go “On the Land” to learn about Gwich’in traditional activities and culture.

This event is open to everyone. Anyone wishing to attend must enrol in advance.

For more information, please contact:

Patrick Tomlinson, Director, Intergovernmental Relations Bev Morris, Conference CoordinatorGwich’in Tribal Council Gwich’in Tribal Council(867) 777-7941 (867) [email protected] [email protected]

www.gtc2013.com

September 10 – 12, 2013 Inuvik, Northwest Territories

Page Summer 2013


Contact InformationPlease call, write, email, or stop by our offices if you want further information. Your feedback is important to us and we will always accept collect calls from our Gwich’in Participants

Chief Jim Koe Zheh (across from Capital Suites)1-3 Council Cresent, PO Box 1509, Inuvik, NT X0E 0T0 Phone: 867-777-7900 Fax: 867-777-7919Email: [email protected]

Electronic copies can be downloaded at: www.gwichin.nt.ca

Gwich’in Tribal Council

PO Box 1509

Inuvik, NT, X0E 0T0

Aboriginal Day Tug-o-War

Rope pull tug-o-war in Fort McPherson on Aboriginal Day June 21, 2013

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gtc quarterly newsletter/summer issue gtc …...gtc quarterly newsletter/spring issue page 2 summer...

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