Articles by James O'Connor

Culture, Featured, News November 22, 2024

‘Our Tłı̨chǫ ancestors have been making these products long before our time’

Authentic Northern products Tea of Our Ancestors and Fireweed Blossom Syrup to debut at Saturday holiday sale


Two new Northern food products produced from Indigenous land by Indigenous people will join the more than 30 tables of hand-crafted artistic creations at a major art sale Saturday in Yellowknife. The third Tłı̨chǫ Arts Holiday Sale and Showcase takes place tomorrow from 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. at the…

Featured, News, Police November 22, 2024

RCMP officers start using body-worn cameras in Northwest Territories today

Yellowknife first to roll-out new program, with the rest of the territory to see the new gear in the first half of next year


RCMP officers in Northwest Territories started using body-worn cameras today in Yellowknife, with the complete training and roll-out expected to be completed in eight months. Officers will be trained in groups. Because of this, the public can expect to see some officers with cameras and some without until all have…

Culture, Featured, News, Politics, Reconciliation November 19, 2024

Tłegǫ́hłı̨ Got’įnę, GNWT and Ottawa initial draft of final self-government agreement

Significant milestone for Sahtu Dene and Métis of Norman Wells is a 'crucial step in moving beyond colonial systems of governance, says fed minister


Negotiators in Ottawa for the Tłegǫ́hłı̨ Got’įnę Government Inc., the GNWT, and Canada have initialled the draft final self-government agreement for the Tłegǫ́hłı̨ Got’įnę in Ottawa. Proponents stated this significant milestone demonstrates progress for the the Sahtu Dene and Métis of Norman Wells, moving toward self-government and charting their own…

Culture, Environment, Featured, News, Politics, Reconciliation, Weather November 15, 2024

A $375M generational plan for Indigenous-led conservation, stewardship and economic development across the NWT

'We will take care of the land, the water, the animals, the plant life, and also take care of our communities and our people,' says Tłı̨chǫ Grand Chief Jackson Lafferty


Drummers, woodsmoke and dancing helped usher in an historic $375 million agreement in Behchokǫ̀ that will fund Indigenous-led conservation, stewardship, and economic development across the Northwest Territories. Known as NWT: Our Land for the Future, one of the largest Indigenous-led land conservation initiatives in the world promises to create transformative…

Environment, Featured, News, Politics, Reconciliation, Wildfires November 14, 2024

‘Who’s helping us to recover, emotionally, physically, spiritually, in all ways?’

Raw emotions on display from Behchokǫ̀ residents at after-action review open house of 2023 wildfire emergency response


Forty people gathered at tables in a school gymnasium in Behchokǫ̀ on Wednesday night, sharing stories of resilience, confusion and anger over the 2023 wildfire season. Repeated themes were the absent, slow or confusing communications from the GNWT, and a lack of help for evacuees when returning home after 10…

Environment, Featured, News, Politics, Reconciliation November 12, 2024

Massive $375M Indigenous-led conservation partnership set to be signed in Behchokǫ̀

Project Finance for Permanence to create long-term protection and stewardship of lands and waters across the NWT


One of the largest Indigenous-led land conservation initiatives in the world is set to be celebrated on Thursday in Behchokǫ̀, with $375 million in funding from various sources. This work, occurring under the name Northwest Territories Project Finance for Permanence (NWT PFP) brings governments and the philanthropic community together to…

Culture, Environment, Featured, Life Style, News, Reconciliation November 11, 2024

Indigenous filmmakers shine at Yellowknife International Film Festival

Dene hunting knowledge, Behchokǫ̀ wildfire evacuation, climate change and language revitalization a few of the topics explored


aRTLeSS Collective won the NWT Film Commission’s Northern Filmmaker Award for Behchokǫ̀ Evacuation: Strength and Resilience in the Face of Fire on the final night of the 2024 Yellowknife International Film Festival. The documentary tells the story of nearly 2,000 Tłı̨chǫ citizens who, in the summer of 2023, were evacuated…

Featured, News, Politics, Reconciliation November 11, 2024

Team working on Dehcho Process question having to deal with GNWT

'It's really difficult dealing with them … the territorial government,’ says Dehcho First Nations Grand Chief Herb Norwegian


The territorial government is being blamed for delaying a process that would provide the Dehcho people with control over 50,000 square kilometres of surface and subsurface lands hugging the Mackenzie River, creating a new jurisdiction called Dehcho Ndehe. In a virtual town hall last week, the Dehcho Process negotiating team…

Art, Education, Environment, Featured, History, News, Reconciliation November 5, 2024

New Inuit toonie celebrates four-region northern unity

A Royal Canadian Mint first sees multiple artists on same coin, representing all areas of Inuit Nunangat, or homeland


The distinct ways of life and culture of the Inuit Nunangat are represented in a new $2 commemorative circulation coin out this week. The Royal Canadian Mint’s new toonie symbolizes Inuit unity through the four artists’ joint representation of the story of Nuliajuk — spirit of the sea — and…

Featured, News, Reconciliation November 4, 2024

Justice Murray Sinclair’s passing ‘leaves a gaping hole in our hearts’

Indigenous lawyer, judge and senator from Manitoba exposed racial injustice through Truth and Reconciliation Commission


Murray Sinclair, the groundbreaking Indigenous lawyer, judge and senator who led inquiries that exposed racial injustice and redefined how Canadians see Indian residential schools, has died. He was 73. Sinclair, whose spirit name is Mizhana Gheezhik (The One Who Speaks of Pictures in the Sky), died early Monday morning at…