ECONOMY, ENVIRONMENT AND CLIMATE CHANGE

Commitment 1.3.4 – We will continue to implement the Traditional Knowledge Policy and Framework across the GNWT, while working with Aboriginal governments to develop an action plan to improve the inclusion of traditional knowledge in program development, implementation and decision making.

In 1997, the Government of the Northwest Territories (GNWT) passed the Traditional Knowledge (TK) Policy to incorporate TK into GNWT decisions and actions where appropriate. While the TK Policy applies to all GNWT departments, the Minister of Environment and Natural Resources (ENR) is accountable for the implementation of this policy, and must also ensure that TK regarding the environment is taken into consideration in all environmental management actions and decisions (milestones 1, 2 and 4).

According to this Policy:

The Government recognizes that Aboriginal traditional knowledge is a valid and essential source of information about the natural environment and its resources, the use of natural resources, and the relationship of people to the land and to each other, and will incorporate traditional knowledge into government decisions and actions where appropriate.

ENR established the TK Task Group which will support the TK Coordinator to complete the review and edits to the TK Policy and the TK Implementation Framework (milestone 3). ENR has developed a TK Implementation Plan to assist in the integration and the utilization of TK in its programs and services (milestone 5).