A couple of small Deh Cho communities are showing they can be mighty when it comes to protecting the land and water and understanding the effects of climate change.
Jean Marie River's Tthets鈥檈hk鈥檈deli First Nation and Sambaa K'e First Nation were recognized with awards during the NWT Association of Communities annual general meeting in Yellowknife from Feb. 27-March 1.
With a population of close to 60, Jean Marie River earned the 2025 Climate Change Resilience Award, which comes with $5,000 to support ongoing climate change adaptation work. Tthets鈥檈hk鈥檈deli First Nation has invested more than 20 years in monitoring the changing climate and the impact it's having on water, land and residents.
Among the initiatives undertaken in Jean Marie River are permafrost mapping and a permafrost vulnerability assessment to understand how thawing permafrost could affect wildlife, vegetation, food security and traditional practices. This resulted in a community-wide adaptation plan and implementation framework. A list of best practices was developed for those who travel on the land so they can better understand risks associated with climate change. A community-based Climate Change Working Group has been formed. Job descriptions now include climate change responsibilities.
"Jean Marie River First Nation has used an approach that combines traditional knowledge and western science to ensure that the steps they take to adapt help build resilience in ways that recognize and respect the culture and values of the community," Nahendeh MLA Shane Thompson said in the legislative assembly on March 13. "Climate change has significantly increased the number and urgency of issues competing for community government time and resources. What Jean Marie River鈥檚 adaptation plan has done has really helped the community define and prioritize the climate impacts and the steps they want to take."
Accepting the award on behalf of the Tthets鈥檈hk鈥檈deli First Nation was Coun. Margaret Ireland, who was an award winner herself, collecting the 2025 Community Service Award. Ireland was described as "a trailblazer in tackling climate change and supporting community-led research. Most of her career has focused on helping Jean Marie River First Nation build resilience to the effects of a changing climate."
To the south of Jean Marie River, in Sambaa K'e, where close to 100 people reside, the 2025 Community Builder Award has found a new home.
"For many years, Sambaa K鈥檈 First Nation has been building partnerships and pioneering innovative approaches to protect the land and water, strengthen food security, spur economic development and adapt to a changing climate," said Thompson.
For example, the community has assessed its water resources, identified vulnerabilities and forged a community-based source water protection plan, which led to improved conditions at the local solid waste facility. Water quality and nearby fish habitat continues to be monitored.
To improve food security, Sambaa K'e First Nation (SKFN) drafted an agriculture development plan and cultivated a large community garden that includes a greenhouse. Produce is shared through the community store and cooking circles, Thompson noted.
Trapping and harvesting programs, involving Elders and youth, have also received a big push, he added.
Another small Deh Cho community 鈥� the Ka'agee Tu First Nation in Kakisa 鈥� has partnered with the Sambaa K'e First Nation and Wilfred Laurier University researchers on climate change adaptation efforts.
"This process culminated in adaptation plans, with priorities and strategies for each community. This kind of collaboration is what we need more of in the NWT," Thompson said. "SKFN is a long-standing leader in Indigenous-led conservation work. For years Samba K鈥檈 has been pursuing the establishment of a legally protected conservation area that aligns with their environmental and cultural values. This is not just about protecting the land; it鈥檚 about weaving Indigenous-led conservation into the very fabric of economic development and the wider Dene economy."
Earth Day is marked on April 22.
