FALL/WINTER 2019 Establishment of the East Arm National Park Reserve and Signing of the Impact Benefit Agreement Thaidene Nene established as Canada’s newest National Park Reserve Unwarranted Cabin Taxation Indigenous Métis members have the right to build and utilize traditional use cabins Traditional Territory Highway Signs Welcome to the traditional territory of the Northwest Territory Métis Nation Elders-Youth: Learning from the Land and Waters Establishing a long-term climate change study WINGS MAGAZINE VOICE OF THE NORTHWEST TERRITORY M ÉTIS NATION WINGS Magazine is the official publi- EXECUTIVE cation of the Northwest Territory Métis President - Garry Bailey Nation. Vice President - Betty Villebrun Published by Northwest Territory Métis Secretary Treasurer - Paul Harrington Nation November 2019 All rights reserved. The contents of this NEGOTIATIONS publication may not be reproduced by Fort Resolution Métis President - Lloyd Cardinal any means in whole or in part, without Fort Smith Métis President - Allan Heron the prior written consent of the North- west Territory Métis Nation. Hay River Métis President - Trevor Beck Chief Negotiator - Jake Heron If you notice any errors, please email: [email protected] ADMINISTRATION Executive Director - Ursula Vogt Administrative Assistant - Ria Coleman Finance Manager - Christy Heron Finance Clerk - Coreen Stewart Corporate Services Manager - Jason Lepine Senior Registries Officer - Kelsey Heron Registries Officer - Jorja Mulder Communications Officer - Michael Holmberg EDUCATION & EMPLOYMENT HR / Education Manager - Pearl Bird Career Counselor - Candice Mercredi Employment Counselor - Shiloh Richard ENVIRONMENTAL Land and Resources Manager - Tim Heron Land and Resources Clerk - Marilyn Mandeville CONTACT INFORMATION AAROM Coordinator - Quentin Steinwand Northwest Territory Métis Nation Box 720, 25 Camsell Street Fort Resolution Community Fieldworker - Trudy King Fort Smith, NT, X0E 0P0 Fort Smith Community Fieldworker - Brad Bird Phone: 867.872.2770 Hay River Community Fieldworker - Jacqueline Miersch Fax: 867.872.2772 CULTURAL Toll Free: 1.866.872.NTMN (6866) Languages Manager - Vance Sanderson Email: [email protected] On-the-Land Healing & Wellness Coordinator - Julie Lys Website: nwtmetis.ca - Deanna O’Reilly Facebook: facebook.com/nwtmetis Métis Cultural Institute Coordinator 2 WINGS Magazine nwtmetis.ca TABLE OF CONTENTS 04 04 Establishment of the East Arm National Park Reserve and Signing of the Impact Benefit Agreement Thaidene Nene established as Canada’s newest National Park Reserve 06 Unwarranted Cabin Taxation Indigenous Métis members have a right to build and utilize traditional use cabins 06 08 08 Traditional Territory Highway Signs Welcome to the traditional territory of the Northwest Territory Métis Nation 10 Elders-Youth: Learning from the Land and Waters Establishing a long-term climate change study 10 12 Métis Profile NWT Métis Nation’s On-the-Land Healing & Wellness Coordinator - Julie Lys 14 Language Projects NWT Métis Nation adds to its Indigenous languages revitalization efforts 12 14 18 2018 AGA Summary AGA Highlights, Election Results and Order of the Sash & Shawl facebook.com/nwtmetis Fall/Winter 2019 3 EAST ARM NATIONAL PARK RESERVE ESTABLISHMENT OF THE EAST AND THE SIGNING OF THE Thaidene Nene established as On August 20, 2019, the Northwest Territory Métis Nation celebrated an important milestone with the signing, in Fort Resolution, of an Impact and Benefit Agreement for the East Arm National Park Reserve (also referred to as Thaidene Nene) with Parks Canada. The Agreement was signed by Minister of the Environment and Climate Change Catherine McKenna, and President Garry Bailey of the NWT Métis Nation on behalf of the Fort Resolution Métis Government Council, Fort Smith Métis Council and the Hay River Métis Government Council. The NWT Métis Nation has worked on a government- to-government basis, in partnership with Parks Canada, in the establishment of the national park reserve and with the Government of the Northwest Territories in the establishment of the Thaidene Nene protected area. The negotiation of the Impact and Benefit Agree- ment with Parks Canada and the Establishment Agree- ment with the Government of the Northwest Territories recognize the ongoing presence and inherent right of the self-government of the NWT Métis Nation and are important steps towards reconciliation with Canada and the Government of the Northwest Territories. The East Arm area is very important to the NWT Métis Nation. The harvesting practices, culture, history and way of life of the NWT Métis Nation are tied to the land, resources and waters in the East Arm area, in particular at the historic trading post of Fort Reliance. The abo- riginal harvesting rights of Indigenous Métis members will continue in the East Arm area ensuring our way of life will flourish for the generations to come. Indigenous Métis members will continue to harvest wildlife, fish, plants and trees, and continue to use camps, cabins and traditional travel routes to exercise harvesting rights in the East Arm Area. The NWT Métis Nation will have equal representation on the Management Board that will be established for the National Park and Protected Area. The NWT Métis Nation will be working with the Łutsel K’e Dene First Nation and Parks Canada on a government-to-govern- ment basis on the Management Board, that will prepare the Management Plan and provide recommendations to the decision-makers for the management of the National Park and the Protected Area. We are proud to be one of 4 WINGS Magazine nwtmetis.ca IMPACT BENEFIT AGREEMENT ARM NATIONAL PARK RESERVE IMPACT BENEFIT AGREEMENT newest National Park Reserve the decision-makers. The NWT Métis Nation is always balancing environ- mental stewardship and economic development for our members. In this area, we have prioritized environmen- tal stewardship, while promoting our participation in the evolving conservation economy. Through the im- plementation of the Impact and Benefit Agreement, we have created opportunities for our Indigenous Métis, including: - A youth camp at Simpson Island; - Summer employment and scholarships for our - students; - A building for the Métis Cultural Institute at - Fort Resolution; - A guardianship program; - Water monitoring; - Economic development opportunities in the - conservation economy for our three local Métis - Governments or our Indigenous Métis members; - Employment opportunities and contracting - opportunities; and - Participation on the Management Board. The NWT Métis Nation would like to commend and congratulate Łutsel K’e Dene First Nation on their work in establishing the National Park Reserve. The NWT Métis Nation looks forward to working with Łutsel K’e Dene First Nation and Parks Canada in managing the National Park on a government-to-government basis. The NWT Métis Nation recognizes the Liberal Gov- ernment for all it is doing to achieve reconciliation with indigenous people of Canada. We appreciate Michael McLeod, the Member of Parliament for the Northwest Territories, for his dedication to ensuring issues of importance to the residents of the Northwest Territories are considered by the Federal Government. The estab- lishment of the National Park Reserve will ensure the area encompassed by Thaidene Nene will continue to be protected and managed for present and future genera- tions of Indigenous Métis, Akaitcho, and all Canadians. facebook.com/nwtmetis Fall/Winter 2019 5 UNWARRANTED CABIN TAXATION NWT MÉTIS NATION CONTINUES TO TACKLE UNWARRANTED CABIN TAXATION The Indigenous Métis members of the NWT Métis Nation have a right to build and utilize traditional use cabins throughout its traditional territory For a number of years – in fact, should be exempt from such taxes reconciliation; imposing property since Devolution – many NWT (as such oppressive lease fees). tax in order to generate money for Métis Nation Indigenous Métis the public does not further the goal members have been receiving some The NWT Métis Nation further of reconciliation. Additionally, we unwelcome mail. Notices arrived in explained that our right to build a emphasized that the NWT Métis mailboxes stating that their cabins cabin is an extension of the abo- Nation, as an Indigenous People, have be “assessed” for tax purposes, riginal right to hunt, fish and trap has the right to the lands, territories then followed by annual tax bills. To as it facilitates, and is linked to and resources which it has tradi- add further offence, notices soon traditional and cultural activities tionally owned, occupied and used followed that annual lease fees that are integral to the distinctive (and shared with other Indigenous were dramatically increased. culture of the NWT Métis Nation, People) pursuant to the United including for cultural and commu- Nations Declaration on the Rights Those that rightly chose to ignore nity functions, family gatherings, of Indigenous Peoples (“UNDRIP”). these tax bills have led some being trans-mission of way of life from badgered by collection agencies as elders to youth, preparations for In advance of our Final Agree- government bureaucrats handed harvesting and dressing, sharing and ment (which we expect will provide these files over to third parties which consuming harvested foods. that cabins on Métis land will be seemingly specialized in phone call exempt from GNWT taxes and lease threatening collection actions and We also noted that the modern fees), we are seeking more immedi- negative impacts on