Thaidene Nëné - “The Land of the Ancestors” in Dënesųłiné Yati – is an Indigenous Protected Area of more than 26000 km2 in the Northwest Territories. Here is the place where the barrens and subarctic boreal forest converge on the shore of one of the world’s largest freshwater lakes in a stunning display of rugged, northern beauty.

https://canada.ca/nature


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STEVEN NITAH (Lead negotiator for Łutsël K’é Dene First Nation):
The area has to be respected. This was the first law that was given to the descendants of Dacho, the people of Łutsël K’é, to protect that area. Ts’akui Theda (Lady of the Falls) right now, is the heart of Thaidene Nëné. Everything flows out from her. And we’ll continue using inspiration from her to manage our relationship with Thaidene Nëné.

ADELINE JONASSON (Councilor and Advisor, Thaidene Nëné Łutsël K’é Dene First Nation):
We use the land to gather, fish, trap, every day. Every day the community uses the land. And we want our children and great grandchildren to continue to use the land.


KEVIN MCNAMEE (Director, Protected Areas Establishment, Parks Canada):
It’s a new relationship with the Łutsël K’é Dene First Nation. These are truly historic agreements. They set a new standard for our collaboration with Indigenous people. And in part, what we’re doing is we’re not only protecting a natural area, we are protecting a cultural landscape that is of significance to people that have been on these lands since time immemorial.


ADELINE JONASSON:
We have, over the years, looked after the land, but in order to make sure that the land is protected, we need other people to help us to do that.


STEVEN NITAH:
We initiated this because of our responsibility. It’s important to understand that Łutsël K’é was the leader in this whole process. It was the choices that we made that led to the relationship we have now.
From Łutsël K’é Dene perspective, the first law was Ts’ąkui Theda and her instructions to us. The second law really came around when the Elders drew a map, saying, “this is the area we want you to protect.” And the third law, once we finalized the agreement, we insisted the membership understand the agreement. It was their responsibility to understand it and own it. We brought the land, our law, and our way of life and knowing and doing, to the table. They brought their law and some financial resources. The Thaidene Nëné Trust, it will be owned by the First Nations, the Łutsël K’é Dene First Nations. That gives us real independence. We don’t have to go to Canada or the Government of the Northwest Territories.
For Łutsël K’é, the relationship within Thaidene Nëné is an expression, and an example of what reconciliation looks like for us. So that pretty much sums up Thaidene Nëné in a lot of ways. It is a relationship agreement more than anything else. It is a legal contract, but it is a relationship agreement. And that relationship recognizes the authority that Łutsël K’é has.