What is a relationship plan?

Thaıdene Nëné Badı Xá (Watching Over Thaıdene Nëné) was tabled in the House of Commons in spring 2026. This was the final step in the approval process for the first relationship (management) plan for Thaıdene Nëné Indigenous Protected Area; the plan had previously been signed by all of the operational parties – Łutsël K’é Dene First Nation, Northwest Territory Métis Nation, the Government of the Northwest Territories, and Parks Canada – also known as the partners. Now, the work of implementing the plan begins.

You may be asking yourself, “what is a relationship plan?”

Parks and protected areas are often guided by management plans. A management plan asks and answers the following questions: How do we want things to be in the future? And how do we get there? In other words, it provides strategic direction for the people tasked with decision-making and operations. 

However, the word “management” implies control and ownership over the land. “Management” also suggests a degree of separation between land and people that does not exist within Indigenous worldviews. 

It was important for the members of Thaıdene Nëné Xá Dá Yáłtı (the people that speak for Thaıdene Nëné; the protected area’s operational management board) that this first plan for Thaıdene Nëné be rooted in the concept of relationship. As the Indigenous Peoples of the Area, our first relationship is the sacred relationship that we and all the ancestors have with Thaıdene Nëné, which is grounded in nuwé ch’anıe. 

Nuwé ch’anıe is the principle that describes our values and knowledge systems, including our responsibilities to care for the land, water, and wildlife. Nuwé ch’anıe is rooted in the land and is vital to the ongoing stewardship of Thaıdene Nëné.

Thaıdene Nëné Badı Xá also focuses on the relationships that have formed and are being built between the partners (Łutsël K’é Dene First Nation, Northwest Territory Métis Nation, the Government of the Northwest Territories, and Parks Canada) and with signatory Indigenous governments (Łutsël K’é Dene First Nation, Northwest Territory Métis Nation, Deninu Kųę́ First Nation, Yellowknives Dene First Nation). Together, we can do great things.

As Adeline Jonasson notes in the message from the chair that opens the relationship plan, “Rooting Thaıdene Nëné Badı Xá in relationship is essential for yúnethé xá (for the future) – for ensuring healthy land, water, and wildlife now and for future generations, who will continue to practice their nuwé ch’anıe to keep our culture, language and traditions alive (nuwé ch’anıe bet’aı́t’ı̨ xá).”

Thaıdene Nëné is a largely pristine and healthy landscape because of the countless generations who have cared for the land and water. Thaıdene Nëné Badı Xá provides direction on how we will continue to steward Thaıdene Nëné for generations to come.