through Heritage Research Photo credit: Gilad (Gadi) Katz, GSCI - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

Implementing the Gwich’in Land Claim through Heritage Research Photo credit: Gilad (Gadi) Katz, GSCI Ingrid Kritsch & Alestine Andre Gwich’in Social and Cultural Institute Gwich’in Social & Cultural Institute

CULTURAL/HERITAGE ARM OF GWICH’IN TRIBAL COUNCIL Gwich’in Social & Cultural Institute

HOW IS GSCI GOVERNED? GSCI Board Members Mary Ann Ross, Chair, GTC Sarah McLeod-Firth, Inuvik Gladys Alexie, Fort McPherson Ruth Wright, Inuvik Annie-Jane Modeste, Fort McPherson Anna May McLeod, Tsiigehchic Renie Stewart, Aklavik Gwich’in Social & Cultural Institute

GSCI OFFICES & STAFF HEAD OFFICE LANGUAGE OFFICE Tsiigehtchic RESEARCH OFFICE EXEC DIR OFFICE Fort McPherson Yellowknife Fort McPherson Alestine Andre William Firth Heritage Language Manager Researcher Ingrid Kritsch Sharon Research Director Snowshoe Executive Director Margaret Thompson Resource Coordinator Gwich’in Social & Cultural Institute

MANDATE “to document, preserve and promote Gwich’in culture, language, traditional knowledge and values” Photo credit: Ingrid Kritsch, GSCI Hyacinthe Andre telling story to Alestine Andre at Nihtavan diniinlee during the Gwichya Gwich'in Place Names Project 1993. Gwich’in Social & Cultural Institute

WHO DO WE SERVE? Gwich’in beneficiaries in Gwich’in Settlement Region • Aklavik • Fort McPherson • Inuvik • Tsiigehtchic Gwich’in Social & Cultural Institute

OUR SUCCESSES • Over 50 research projects many of them multi-year between 1993 & 2009 • Many publications, reports, exhibits, web site, videos, posters • Successful partnerships - beneficiaries, other First Nations, fed. & terr. gov’ts , students Gwich’in Social & Cultural Institute

Traditional land use and place names projects Chii gwaazraii Diighe'tr'aajil Photo credit: Dave Jones, GTC Wm. Kush viteetshik Tl’oondih Photo credits: Ingrid Kritsch, GSCI Gwich’in Social & Cultural Institute

Ethnobotany Projects - traditional use of plants Photo credit: Ingrid Kritsch, GSCI Ruth Blake Welsh & Brenda Kendo Gwich’in Social & Cultural Institute

Ethno-archaeology Projects - NWT Photo credits: Ingrid Kritsch, GSCI Excavations in Fort McPherson and up the Arctic Red River Gwich’in Social & Cultural Institute

Ethno-archaeology Projects - Yukon Black City Tr’ondek Hwech’in and Teetl’it Gwich’in youth excavating site. Photo credits: Tr’ondek Hwech’in Ts’ok iitl’in Photo credit: Yukon Heritage Branch Percy Henry, Dorothy Alexie, Robert Alexie, Alfred Semple, Walter Alexie, Gladys Alexie, Georgette McLeod. Gwich’in Social & Cultural Institute

Elder’s biographies Project Dictionary & Grammar Gwich’in Social & Cultural Institute

Work with communities to identify & nominate National Historic Sites Ethel Blondin, Alestine Andre, Agnes Mitchell & Margaret Donovan at unveiling of the Nagwichoonjik National Historic Site plaque in Tsiigehtchic in July 2003. Photo credit: Terry Foster, HSMBC. Gwich’in Social & Cultural Institute

Work with communities to identify & nominate Territorial Historic Sites Gwich’in Social & Cultural Institute

Canadian Heritage Rivers Work with Gwich’in communities and other First Nations to nominate Canadian Heritage Rivers - i.e. Mackenzie River Gwich’in Social & Cultural Institute

Replication of Material Culture - 19th C. Traditional Caribou Clothing Photo credit: Tom Andrews Photo credits: Alexander Hunter Murray Gwich’in Social & Cultural Institute

Gwich’in Science Camps Tl’oondih Camp 2001 Knut Lang Camp 1997 Photo credits: Ingrid Kritsch, GSCI Ryan Wilson and Michael Charlie Dave Jones, Ramona Bonnetplume & examining whitefish Frederick Arey checking water samples Gwich’in Social & Cultural Institute

Land Use Applications - Recording traditional land use helps us assess possible impacts on heritage sites re: proposed land use activities Named places Harvesting places Graves Historic places Traditional camps Sacred places Gwich’in Social & Cultural Institute Photo credits: Ingrid Kritsch, GSCI

Policies Gwich’in TK Policy Burial Sites Policies - NWT & Yukon Gwich’in Social & Cultural Institute

Gwich’in Land Use Plan Recording traditional land use helps us to provide input into the Gwich’in Land Use Plan Recording trails on land and water Photo credits: Ingrid Kritsch, GSCI Gwich’in Social & Cultural Institute

Key Clause in Heritage Chapter of Claim Gwich’in can provide government with a list of historic, archaeological and burial sites that are of interest Gwich’in Social & Cultural Institute

Elders and youth working together Photo credit: Ingrid Kritsch, GSCI Erika Kritsch and Troy Alexie watch Michael Charlie & Franklin Ross skin beavers Robert Alexie butchering a beaver Gwich’in Social & Cultural Institute

Official recognition of Gwich’in place names Photo credit: Ingrid Kritsch, GSCI In 1994 Arctic Red River changes it’s official name to Tsiigehtchic “mouth of iron river” Gwich’in Social & Cultural Institute

Educational material First of our land based and community history books Gwich’in Social & Cultural Institute

Educational material Ethno-archaeology book – awarded “Public Communications Award” from the CAA Gwich’in Social & Cultural Institute

Educational material - traditional clothing book Gwich’in Social & Cultural Institute

Educational material - traditional clothing exhibits in Gwich’in communities and the Prince of Wales Northern Heritage Centre in Yellowknife Gwich’in Social & Cultural Institute

Educational material Ethnobotany book and resource kit used in local schools Gwich’in Social & Cultural Institute

Educational material - GSCI web site Gwich’in Social & Cultural Institute

Educational material - Talking map Gwich’in Social & Cultural Institute

Educational material – Plant database Gwich’in Social & Cultural Institute

Largest National Historic Site - 175 km stretch along the Mackenzie River Gwich’in Social & Cultural Institute

Eight New Territorial Sites NWT Historic Sites Register Nagwichoo tshik - Mouth of Peel Village site Nataiinlaii - Eight Miles Village site Gwich’in Social & Cultural Institute

Our challenges Gwich’in Social & Cultural Institute

TIME Gwich’in Social & Cultural Institute

FUNDING Core Funding 1400000 1200000 • GTC, GNWT and Federal Gov’t only cover part of GSCI 1000000 core operating costs. 800000 amount year 600000 400000 Project Funding 200000 • all projects are financed by 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 third-party funding. Gwich’in Social & Cultural Institute

LANGUAGE Gwich’in is the most endangered of the NWT Aboriginal languages • very few speakers • very few can write the language Gwich’in Social & Cultural Institute

EDUCATION • need more Gwich’in completing high school and going on to post secondary schooling Gwich’in Social & Cultural Institute

SOCIAL ISSUES/SOCIAL SUFFERING • Knowing where you come from and having knowledge and respect for your culture, language and history at both the individual and collective levels, is essential to creating healthy citizens. Gwich’in Social & Cultural Institute

Elders Are the Key Gwich’in Social & Cultural Institute

Mahsi’ choo! www.gwichin.ca Gwich’in Social & Cultural Institute

Questions ? Photo credit: Terry Foster, HSMBC Gwich’in Social & Cultural Institute