 We are celebrating the arrival of spring with a longer newsletter (we missed the winter edition because our communication staff was on leave). Keep reading for updates from Ni Hat’ni Dene, Thaıdene Nëné Xá Dá Yáłtı, and Frontier Lodge, and a report from engagement sessions that were held in Łutsël K’é and Yellowknife about trail building, clean-up, and visitor orientation.
In this issue, we also celebrate the completion of a video about the Biodiversity Monitoring Project that was narrated in Dënesųłıné Yatı by Dennis Drygeese. In addition to providing an introduction to the project, the video, which also features English subtitles, is a language-learning tool. Thaıdene Nëné Xá Dá Yáłtı (TDNXDY), the operational management board for the Thaıdene Nëné Indigenous Protected Area, is seeking an assistant to provide administrative support to the TDNXDY chair, independent facilitator, board members, and associated senior party representatives to ensure smooth and effective board operations.
This is a part-time contract position. The standard work week is 14 hours. However, there may be slower times and busier times leading into board meetings, so there is a need for a flexible schedule at times. The successful candidate is ideally a member of Łutsël K’é Dene First Nation, Northwest Territory Métis Nation, Deninu Kųę́ First Nation, or Yellowknives Dene First Nation. They are also willing to operate as an independent contractor. Functions and Duties The board support assistant will provide administrative support to the TDNXDY chair, independent facilitator, and Thaıdene Nëné manager, including but not limited to:
The board support assistant will attend all TDNXDY board meetings and will be expected to travel with Thaıdene Nëné Xá Dá Yáłtı. The assistant may be asked to travel to other events connected to Thaıdene Nëné. In general, Thaıdene Nëné Xá Dá Yáłtı meets once every six weeks for two-three days. Meetings will require approximately three days of preparation prep and up to four days of follow-up. Minimum Qualifications Knowledge, skills, and abilities required:
The deadline to apply is January 10, 2025. Please contact Shannon Ward, independent facilitator for Thaıdene Nëné Xá Dá Yáłtı, if you have questions and to apply ([email protected]| 867-445-1602). Residents and visitors are advised that a muskox with signs of Orf (Contagious Ecthyma) has been seen in Thaıdene Nëné. Orf can infect people if they touch affected areas. However, it is not life-threatening. Also, the meat is safe to eat if you trim off the affected parts. What are signs of Orf?
What should I do if I see a muskox that appears to have Orf?
What should I do if I harvest a muskox that appears to have Orf?
More information about Orf can be found on pages 8 and 9 of the Field Guide for Wildlife Diseases.
 This past August marked five years since the Łutsël K’é Dene First Nation signed establishment agreements with the Government of Canada and the Government of the Northwest Territories to designate parts of the Thaıdene Nëné Indigenous Protected Area a national park reserve, territorial protected area, and wildlife conservation area.
These agreements were historic, the first of their kind in the country. The governance of the Thaıdene Nëné Indigenous Protected Area has been equally ground-breaking. Indigenous and Crown governments are working together to ensure that the ecological integrity of Thaıdene Nëné and the Dënesųłıné way of life are protected forever. While there is still much work to be done, we’ve already accomplished so much. Read our October newsletter to learn about what else we were up to this summer and fall activities, including the Retracing Our Roots Youth Canoe Trip, an ecological monitoring and knowledge sharing camp at Ɂedacho Tł’ázı̨ (Timber Bay) on Ɂedacho Tué (Artillery Lake), and the Indigenous Conservation Forum.  An ecological monitoring and knowledge sharing camp took place at Ɂedacho Tł’ázı̨ (Timber Bay) on Ɂedacho Tué (Artillery Lake) from September 7-15, 2024. The 46 participants included Parks Canada staff, Ni Hat’ni Dene guardians, Elders, and other Łutsël K’é Dene members of all ages. This camp was a follow-up to a workshop held in spring 2023, during which community members identified monitoring priorities. The work planned for the September camp included retrieving and redeploying cameras and audio recording units and conducting vegetation and water monitoring. Sessions took place with the Elders at camp to discuss the monitoring projects and obtain feedback and direction as to where the wildlife cameras and recording units should be set up. Community members welcomed the opportunity to accompany Parks staff on trips by helicopter and learn how to deploy and retrieve the cameras and recording units. Community members also spent time exploring the area by boat. They visited places like K’ıchı̨́ı̨ Nué (Crystal Island) and the island in Ɂedacho Tł’ázı̨, where Gahdële, a powerful medicine man, is buried. There were sightings of muskox and caribou in the area. While there were more berries than last year, community members noticed that there were still less berries than normal, especially blueberries. They also observed low water levels. “It’s been years since I last visited Crystal Island, which was stunning, especially out on the barrenlands. So many memories and new ones to cherish. Thanks. Mársı cho.” - Laura Michel Other camp activities included picking berries, working on meat, getting wood for the camp, working on hides, and fishing. During one of the evening sessions, the Elders shared some of their early memories and other experiences of travelling and living in this area. Another evening was devoted to telling legends. Elder Archie Catholique talked about the importance of young people knowing the history and stories of the ancestors and this area. Youth participants, in particular, enjoyed hearing stories that were new to them, like “The Little People” legend. One night camp participants looked at some of the images that were pulled off the cameras in the previous few days. Community members thought it was interesting to see the images of caribou, wolves, and bears from the area. At the final session, participants expressed how grateful they were for the opportunity to visit this special area and learn from the traditional knowledge holders present. For Elder participant Irene Fatt, the best part of the camp was “being out on the land and doing everything in a traditional way.” She also loved making cranberry jam and fried bannock. Rocky Catholique’s favourite part of his time at Ɂedacho Tł’ázı̨ was eating good food and harvesting Labrador tea, spruce gum, and meat. For a number of participants, it was either their first time at Ɂedacho Tł’ázı̨ or their first visit in the fall time. They talked about what a beautiful and special place it is, especially when the leaves have changed colour and the berries are out, and they hope they are able to go back. “I have always dreamed of visiting the places of our legends, our history, the places my granny told me about, the places my grandfather hunted, lived. - Melaw Nakehk'o Recommendations for future camps included spending more time on the land (two to three weeks instead of one), having more Elders and youth involved, and making sure to share the old stories and legends with the next generation. |
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May 2025
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