Politics

Culture, Education, Featured, History, News, Politics, Reconciliation August 29, 2024

Indigenous languages in NWT need more than just lip service to thrive

For more than two decades, the GNWT has ignored many recommendations from its own languages commissioner


“The French language community has struggled hard to achieve recognition of their language in the NWT. Their work serves as a model in many ways for the work, which is needed on Dene languages.” Former languages commissioner Fibbie Tatti, in her 2004 report to the Assembly The erosion of Indigenous…

Featured, News, Politics, Weather, Wildfires August 28, 2024

GNWT scorched in critical report over response to 2023 wildfires

Environment and Climate Change Dep't was unable to cope with unprecedented situation; many improvements already made for this year


Misinformation from the public, poor internal communications, contractors “exploiting” the emergency, casual firefighters showing up drunk or high, and a lot of on-the-job stress and subsequent mental health issues were some of the previously unknown aspects from last year’s wildfire season. A 212-page review of NWT’s Environment and Climate Change…

Featured, News, Politics August 1, 2024

‘We need to modernize the Dene Nation Constitution’: Newly elected Dene National chief

The clock is ticking for George Mackenzie, who plans to rework the Constitution during his three-year term


Former Tłı̨chǫ grand chief turned Dene National chief, George Mackenzie, says he plans on taking a hard look at its “outdated” constitution as one of his top priorities in office. “We need to modernize the Dene Nation Constitution,” he says, “to fit the needs of the five regions’ political position.”…

Featured, News, Politics, Weather July 31, 2024

Time to make big waves as NWT’s water on decline

‘This water conference has to be like a movement — like it was with the Berger Inquiry, which was just about oil,' says Dene National Chief George Mackenzie


A major three-day conference on the health and volume of water in the NWT starts tomorrow in Kátl’odeeche First Nation (KFN), examining the downstream results of upstream mining mega projects and hydro dams. Keepers of the Water has partnered with the First Nation and the Canadian Association of Physicians for…

Featured, News, Politics, Reconciliation July 29, 2024

Three days in Dettah: Dene Nation calls for less talk, more action on key issues

Dene National Assembly heard about drug dealers maiming indebted addicts, poor relations with the GNWT and outside threats to the water system


Delegates to the 54th Dene National Assembly came prepared to tackle the toughest issues dragging their communities down. Many demanded less talk and more action to rid communities of drug dealers, get a better command of the organization’s finances and get the remaining land claims agreements over the finish line….

Events, Featured, News, Politics July 24, 2024

Calls for Dene Nation to finally build its own headquarters

Chief Ernest Betsina tells 54th Dene National Assembly it’s time to develop income-producing assets


The Dene Nation should construct its own building, for use as a central gathering place and also to reduce the nearly $630,000 in rent each year for its existing offices. The 54th Dene National Assembly in Dettah’s 400-person Chief Drygeese Conference Centre was standing room only from the start today…