Thaidene Nene: A Living Legacy and Vision for the Lutsel K’e Dene Homeland
Thaidene Nene, the sacred homeland of the Lutsel K’e Dene, embodies our ancestral connection to the land, reflecting values of stewardship and cultural preservation. For generations, our elders have passed down the responsibility to protect and manage this land, ensuring the continuity of our culture and way of life for future generations. We are committed to integrating traditional knowledge with modern practices, promoting economic sustainability while safeguarding our environment. Thaidene Nene stands as a living legacy, welcoming the world to experience our Dene way of life.
Thaidene Nene: A Living Legacy and Vision for the Lutsel K’e Dene Homeland
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Presentation Transcript
ThaideneNene “LandoftheAncestors”
ThaideneNene “LandoftheAncestors”
LutselK’e’svisionfor ThaideneNenehasbeen consistentfordecades, passeddownthroughour eldersandChiefs.
ThaideneNeneistheLutsel K’e Dene homeland. The responsibilitytotakecareof thislandisours.
Ourwayoflifeistiedtotheland. Wewantthiswayoflifetohave valueinmoderntimes,andto carry on through to our and generations grandchildren beyond.
WewilluseourDenewaysof knowinganddoingtomanage andoperateThaideneNene.
ThaideneNenewillbealivinglegacyforall,wherethe LutselK’eDene,withitspartners,willwelcomethe world.
Theyknowouridentityand strength come from our with Thaidene relationship Nene.
Sothatwecancontinueto practiceourculture…
Wearetheland. WeareThaideneNene.
OurVISION: ThaideneNeneistheheartofthehomelandandsacredplaceofthe LutselK’eDenesoline.ItiswheretheancestorsoftheLutselK’e Denesolinelaiddownthesacred,ethical,andpracticalfoundationsof theDenesolinewayoflife. Carryingthesetraditionsintothefuture,theLutselK’eDenesolinehave therighttopromotetheirculture,practicetheirrelationshipwiththe landandwater,andprotecttheterritoryuponwhichthiscultureand relationshipdepend.ProtectionofThaideneNenemeanspreservingthe environmentalandculturalintegrityofahomelandfundamentaltoa materialwell-beingandculturalidentity. AsthekeepersofThaideneNene,theLutselK’eDenesolinehavethe responsibilitytoactasstewardsofthelandandashosttovisitors
OurOBJECTIVES: 1.Protectkeyenvironmentalandcultural componentsofThaideneNene. 2.ImplementLKDFNjurisdictionandresponsibility forthemanagementandoperationofThaidene Nene. 3.PromoteDenesolineculture,traditional knowledge,andscienceamongourgenerations. 4.Fosteradiverse,sustainablelocaleconomyin LutselK’e.
NegotiationswithCanadato establish a governance partnershipforThaideneNene arewellunderway.Wehopeto haveagreementinprincipleon thisinthecomingmonths.
WhileanAreaofInterestforThaideneNenehasbeenidentified,boundaryWhileanAreaofInterestforThaideneNenehasbeenidentified,boundary discussionshaveyettobegininearnest. LutselK’ewillbeevaluatingenvironmental,cultural,andeconomicfactors whenconsideringaboundary,andisintheprocessofengagingdirectlywith Canada,themineralsindustryandtheGovernmentoftheNWTindetermining aboundarythatismutuallyacceptable. Wehopetofinalizeboundarydiscussionsinearly2014.
InordertofinanciallysupportourongoingresponsibilityforThaideneNene,weareInordertofinanciallysupportourongoingresponsibilityforThaideneNene,weare buildingtheThaideneNeneTrustFundusingown-source,private,andpubliccapital. Trustdollarswillbeusedto: • • • • FundFirstNationstaffandoperationalrequirementsforthemanagementand operationofThaideneNene SupporttheeducationandtrainingofLutselK’eDenesolineforThaideneNene humanresourceneeds PromotetheDeneWayofLife FosteraviablestewardshipandtourismeconomyinLutselK’e ActivefundraisingfortheTrustFundhasjuststarted.
LutselK’eisalreadybuildingcapacitytofulfillitsmanagementandoperationalLutselK’eisalreadybuildingcapacitytofulfillitsmanagementandoperational responsibilitiesinThaideneNeneby: • • • • Supportingtheeducationandtrainingofyoungpeopleinenvironmental monitoringandnaturalresourcemanagement(scholarships,on-the-job training). DeliveringprogramstoteachyouthaboutDenewaysofknowingand doing. BuildinguptheinstitutionalstrengthofourFirstNationgovernment. ImplementingastewardshipprogramforThaideneNene(Nihat’ni Dene–“WatchersoftheLand”Program).
• • Nihat’niDenemeans“WatchersoftheLand” Mandateisto: • • maintaintheintegrityofculturalsitesandthenaturalbeautywithin ThaideneNene; hostandprovideinterpretivetoursforvisitorsinthearea; • monitor and document visitor activity, cultural features, and environmental/wildlifevalues; transmitculturalandscientificknowledgetoyoungergenerations. • • ANihat’niDenecrewconsistsoftwoexperiencedland-usersandtwoyouth, whoarestationedinThaideneNeneallsummer.Theysurveyandhostvisitors, gathermonitoringdata,andcare-takeimportantsites.
Infrastructurehasbeen developed....
.....hospitalityandinterpretiveguidetrainingis ongoing.....
Wearehosting,guiding,and gathering data from our visitors….
…aswellasensuringthatouryoungpeoplehavetheskillsandknowledge…aswellasensuringthatouryoungpeoplehavetheskillsandknowledge tounderstandandsharethewondersofourhomeland.
WehavealsocompletedaLutselK’eandThaideneNenetourismstrategytoWehavealsocompletedaLutselK’eandThaideneNenetourismstrategyto fosteranddiversifyourlocaleconomy. LutselK’ewillbepursuingsomeoftheopportunitiesidentifiedinthestrategy thisyear(e.g.foodandaccommodationservices,centralizedtourismproduct andmarketingplatform).
WehavedevelopedaThaideneNenebusinesscasewhichidentifieseffectsonWehavedevelopedaThaideneNenebusinesscasewhichidentifieseffectson localeconomicdevelopmentwithintwelveyearsofestablishment: • • • • 18full-timeandseasonaljobsinLutselK’eforthedirectoperationandmanagementof ThaideneNene; Capitalinfrastructureinvestmentsof$12millionandassociatedspin-offbenefitsfor localbuildersandsuppliers; Ongoingoperationalfundingofupto$2.5million/year;and Atleast20full-timejobsand30seasonaljobsintourismopportunitiesinLutselK’e.
TheLutselK’eDenetakehopeinafuturewhereenvironmentalstewardshipTheLutselK’eDenetakehopeinafuturewhereenvironmentalstewardship andculturalwellnessgohand-in-handwithasustainableeconomy. WheretheFirstNationfostersitsowncapacityanddeterminesthebestlong- termsolutionsforitsownparticularcircumstances. Andwhereself-relianceisrenewedandcommunityisrejuvenated.
Thisistheaspirationandpromiseofthe ThaideneNenevision,andagiftandinspiration tousall.
LutselK’ewelcomesotherstoshareintheThaideneNene vision. Thosewhowishtosupport,learnmore,orexpresstheir concerns,donothesitatetocontacttheFirstNation directly. WEB:www.landoftheancestors.ca FACEBOOK:ThaideneNene TWITTER:@ThaideneNene