Grants and Contributions

The Yellowknives Dene Nation Rebuilding Project will establish the legal and governance infrastructure needed to shift to an Indigenous Dene system of law and governance. To reach this objective, the project will involve: 1) Consulting Dene Knowledge holders to record and distill knowledge on traditional laws, governance and legal traditions; 2) Developing a governance framework to shift to a traditional system of law and government, including legislative drafting; and 3) establishing a constitution for the Yellow Knives Dene First Nation.

The Nuu-chah-nulth Salmon Law Project will support the sustainable management of salmon in the Ha-houlthee (traditional territories) of the central and northern Nuu-chah-nulth Nations. Sustainable resource management requires the revitalization of hishukish ts'awalk, an understanding that everything in the ecosystem is connected. Through this project, the organization will work with elders, traditional leadership, and knowledge holders to re-invigorate traditional fisheries laws into a modern format that conveys the community's vision for the management of fisheries to support the development of an indigenous law rationale for the creation of protected and conserved Salmon Parks in some Nuu-chah-nulth Nations.

This project will advance the development, use and understanding of Denesuline laws by Cold Lake First Nations. In partnership with legal professionals and legal researchers, Cold Lake First Nations will conduct research into the customary traditions and practices that have governed the behavior of individuals and the community. This project will identify the traditional practices and modern legal instruments needed to revitalize and implement Indigenous Denesuline laws in the modern context.

Through this project, the organization will research, pilot and build the laws, institutions and capcity necessary to implement traditional legal concepts among Association of Iroquois and Allied Indians member First Nations. A full-time researcher will study and report on the traditional laws and law-making processes of the Lenape, Mohawk, Oneida, and Anishinaabe nations. In phase two of the project, Batchewana First Nation and Eelünaapéewi Lahkéewiit (Delaware First Nation) will participate in a pilot project to reestablish law-making institutions and begin the process of developing laws. The project will create the necessary capacity and community support for participating nations to maintain their law-making institutions in a sustainable manner.

The project will explore the Heiltsuk Tribal Council's Heiltsuk Gvilas - traditional code of laws and legal order - to inform Heiltsuk laws, policies, and governance processes. The project activities will build the Nation's governance capacity while contributing to the field of Indigenous law and the greater Canadian legal framework.

This project will strengthen Inuit capacity and governance in the area of justice in Nunavik by documenting, mobilizing and promoting Inuit legal practices and knowledge. Activities will include: documenting Inuit legal practices and knowledge; training Inuit justice service employees in both Inuit legal practices and knowledge, and promoting Inuit legal practices and services through awareness and information activities for communities, justice personnel and other public services, and Inuit from other regions of Canada.

The Dehlá Got'ine Caribou Law Project will research and document ancient laws and traditions relating to caribou harvesting. The organization will conduct elder interviews and on-the-land community participatory research to inform the development of a written version of ancient laws related to caribou harvesting. This process will ensure that legal principles and practices in this area are accessible to community members, Indigenous and public governments and co-management authorities to guide and inform caribou co-management processes.

Through this 4-year project, the Sagkeeng Lawmakers Assembly (SLA) will work toward the implementation of the Dibaakonigewin (ratified "Justice Law"). The project will support the establishment of the Judicial Council and Secretariat to ensure that Sagkeeng's unique Anishinaabe laws and legal processes are revitalized in a sustainable way. Supporting the establishment of this internal judicial system will allow the laws and Sagkeeng's legal culture to develop in a culturally appropriate and respectful way. The Judicial Council will be a mechanism for the people of Sagkeeng to be directly involved with their government and lawmaking.

Through this 4-year project, the Sagkeeng Lawmakers Assembly will work toward the implementation of the Dibaakonigewin (ratified "Justice Law"). The project will support the establishment of the Judicial Council and Secretariat to ensure that Sagkeeng's unique Anishinaabe laws and legal processes are revitalized in a sustainable way. Supporting the establishment of this internal judicial system will allow the laws and Sagkeeng's legal culture to develop in a culturally appropriate and respectful way. The Judicial Council will be a mechanism for the people of Sagkeeng to be directly involved with their government and lawmaking.

To support the development and implementation of oceans conservation and management activities in Canada.