Research and community come together through Saht繳 Dene and 蹤獲扞⑹ collaboration
A partnership between 蹤獲扞⑹ and the Saht繳 Land and Water Board is supporting oilfield reclamation guided by Saht繳 Dene knowledge. 蹤獲扞⑹ alumna Annie King is playing a key role in the research through her work in community engagement.
Prince George, B.C. A partnership between 蹤獲扞⑹ researchers and the Saht繳 Land and Water Board (SLWB) is empowering Indigenous communities to actively shape the future reclamation of their ancestral lands. The Norman Wells Oilfield in the Northwest Territories has been operated by Imperial Oil for more than a century and is set to close and undergo reclamation within the next 10 years.
This collaboration is focused on enhancing how Saht繳 Dene and M矇tis communities participate in reclamation processes, a right that was solidified in the 1994 Saht繳 Dene and M矇tis Comprehensive Land Claim Agreement. This agreement granted communities greater authority in environmental decision-making, but left gaps in outlining clear, meaningful engagement processes. To address these gaps, 蹤獲扞⑹ researchers are working closely with the SWLB to enhance community-driven research and ensure effective collaboration.
"This work is about creating pathways for meaningful engagement," says Canada Research Chair in Cumulative Impacts of Environmental Change and 蹤獲扞⑹ Department of Geography, Earth and Environmental Sciences Associate Professor Dr. Tristan Pearce. "It demonstrates how community-researcher partnerships can directly support communities in addressing critical environmental and cultural challenges."
A key facilitator in this effort is SLWB Northern and Indigenous Community Engagement Specialist Annie King. With support from the board, King completed her Master of Arts in Natural Resources and Environmental Studies with a focus on Geography under Pearces supervision in 2023. Her role has proven instrumental in the project's ongoing success.
Working with the Saht繳 Land and Water Board has enabled me to effectively apply the knowledge and skills I developed at 蹤獲扞⑹, directly contributing to meaningful community outcomes, King says. The project builds on the Boards strong relationships with Saht繳 communities, enabling a genuine integration of research insights with local priorities. Ultimately, it aims to ensure that Saht繳 perspectives and values remain central to guiding reclamation decisions, creating outcomes that truly reflect community goals.
This commitment to embedding Saht繳 Dene and M矇tis perspectives is helping to position those communities to lead sustainable and culturally meaningful reclamation initiatives
This collaboration demonstrates the power of community-centered research, says 蹤獲扞⑹s Vice President of Research and Innovation Dr. Paula Wood-Adams. By ensuring Indigenous knowledge guides environmental decisions, the project not only addresses significant regional challenges but also creates valuable opportunities for students and strengthens community engagement in the North.