Acho Dene Koe First Nation

​Management of the Lands and Resources Office

Acho Dene Koe First Nation (ADKFN) is a Dene Nation, signatory to Treaty 11, with Traditional Territory that spans the Northwest Territories, British Columbia, and the Yukon. While their main community is in Fort Liard, Northwest Territories, The Nation’s members continue to use and occupy all their Traditional Territory.

The Nation is currently negotiating land claims with the Government of Canada. It is also working toward self-governance. These efforts are part of a long-term vision that includes plans to balance environmental protection and cultural preservation with benefits from economic opportunities.

In working toward this vision, ADKFN has brought on Shared Value Solutions (SVS) to support the management of their Lands and Resources Office: Since April 2020, SVS has managed all industry engagement and government consultation across the Nation’s Traditional Territory. This ensures that resource development projects consider and protect ADKFN’s rights and interests, and goals.

SVS’s role includes:

· Consultation intake

· Negotiations support for impact benefit agreements

· Supporting self-governance agreement negotiations

· Representing ADKFN at industry and government meetings

· Preparation of written responses to government and industry

· Community engagement

· Preparing funding proposals

· Mentorship of Lands and Resource Office staff

Our team collaborates with chief and council, the Nation’s economic development corporation, and legal counsel to ensure strategy alignment.

Recently, the SVS/ADKFN lands and resources team celebrated a win: They ensured accountability from industry and government in reclamation work at Pointed Mountain, an important cultural and spiritual area for members. Located near the border of the NWT and the Yukon, the Pointed Mountain area includes many abandoned and neglected well sites from oil and gas development over decades.

Shared Value Solutions pushed the industry regulator to meet obligations under the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples Act (UNDRIP), asking industry to restore and reclaim the site to a higher standard. Full restoration will allow the Nation to continue to use the land.

This is one example of how the SVS team supports ADKFN in asserting their rights, interests, and objectives while working with multiple public governments in the face of increasing development in their Traditional Territory. In the future, it is ADKFN’s goal to bring the operation of their Lands and Resource Office in-house. SVS continues to work with staff and leadership, providing mentorship and support to build internal capacity.