The Yellowknives Dene First Nation is looking to flip the process to self-government on its head.
“We are striving to build a model based on Indigenous legal traditions first and incorporate western concepts when necessary instead of the current western model that only incorporates indigenous concepts when convenient,” says Lena Black, YKDFN’s chief executive officer.
Lena Black is YKDFN’s CEO. (Photo courtesy of Lena Black)
To do so, the First Nation will be receiving $474,000 over the next four years to move “from the current western system to a contemporary and traditional Indigenous system of law and governance.”
The funding comes as part of the federal government’s Justice Partnership and Innovation Program, in response to Call to Action 50 of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission.
The call to action pushes for the revitalization of traditional Indigenous laws within communities.
Black says the project will have three phases:
- Collecting knowledge on governance, laws and legal traditions
- Developing a framework to guide YKDFN’s legislation to reflect traditional laws
- Develop a YKDFN constitution
She says the goal is to build a blueprint for other nation’s to transition towards their traditional laws as well.
