August 26, 2022 - Land acknowledgments are an increasingly important measure of respect and recognition for Indigenous territories. However, land acknowledgements in Yellowknife often fail to acknowledge that Yellowknife is part of Mǫwhì Gogha Dè Nı̨ı̨tłèè — the traditional territory of the Tłı̨chǫ.
The Tłı̨chǫ Agreement recognizes Mǫwhì Gogha Dè Nı̨ı̨tłèè as “the traditional area of the Tłı̨chǫ, described by Chief Monfwi during the signing of Treaty 11 in 1921.” Chief Monfwi’s words were recounted by Elder Harry Black at the Mackenzie Valley Pipeline Inquiry in 1977:
The Indian agent asked Chief Monfwi … what size of land he wanted for the band. Monfwi stated … “The size of land has to be large enough for all of my people.” … Chief Monfwi asked for a land boundary starting from Fort Providence, all along the Mackenzie River, right up to Great Bear Lake, then across to Contwoyto Lake … Snowdrift, along the Great Slave Lake, back to Fort Providence.
Chief Monfwi’s description of Mǫwhì Gogha Dè Nı̨ı̨tłèè reflects the long history that the Tłı̨chǫ have with the land in the Yellowknife area. Mǫwhì Gogha Dè Nı̨ı̨tłèè translates to “the line that Monfwi drew”, and these boundaries are enshrined in the Tłı̨chǫ Agreement.
Tłı̨chǫ Government is seeking to ensure that the public understands that land acknowledgments should properly recognize and respect Yellowknife as part of the traditional territory of the Tłı̨chǫ, along with other Indigenous nations who also call this area home.
For more information, please contact: [email protected]
