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A member of the Tthebatthie Denesųłiné Nation on Treaty 8 territory, Francois Paulette survived the residential school system before going on to become the youngest Chief in the Northwest Territories Indian Brotherhood in 1971. In 1972, along with sixteen other chiefs from the Mackenzie Valley, he challenged the Crown to recognize treaty rights and Aboriginal title to over 450,000 square miles of land in the historic Paulette case. He remains a passionate and outspoken advocate of treaty and Indigenous rights in all matters affecting his people, and is recognized in the courts as an expert witness on historic treaties.

As Chief Negotiator for the Tthebatthie Denesųłiné Nation, Francois worked diligently to conclude a Treaty Land Entitlement Agreement, which has proven to be of critical importance in protecting the Slave River from hydro-electric development.

Francois takes pride in maintaining his Dene language and the traditional knowledge that derives from his close relationship with the land. He was one of the founding members of the Dene Cultural Institute, and continues to serve as an interpreter of traditional knowledge and a facilitator of cross-cultural understanding.  As a collaborator on a number of Canadian and international documentary films, he has helped to increase public understanding of the Dene way of life (Dene Ch’anie), and has participated in ecumenical forums, including the Parliament of the World’s Religions, to promote an understanding of the spiritual world of the Dene.

Francois remains active in efforts to protect the natural environment of Denendeh.  He has contributed to numerous water conferences in the north and has been a collaborator on several documentary films focusing on the impact of the tar sands development on the environment and people of northern Canada.  Over a period of nine years, he participated in annual meetings of the United Nations Conference of Parties (COP) on Climate Change, in various locations around the globe and contributed to the Indigenous Peoples’ Traditional Knowledge articles of the Paris Agreement.  As a past member of the Assembly of First Nations Elders Council, Francois was instrumental in the development of traditional knowledge protocols and policy for the Canadian Ministry of Climate Change and the Environment.

Francois has extensive experience as a guest lecturer at institutions such as Aurora College, Dechinta Centre for Research and Learning, and the Munk School of Global Affairs, University of Toronto. He is currently an Adjunct Professor at the University of Alberta’s School of Public Health and an Elder Advisor at the Institute for Circumpolar Health Research (ICHR), where he teaches and mentors students and researchers. As the Chair of the Governing Council for the Northwest Territories NEIHR, a multi-million dollar grant to strengthen Indigenous health research capacity in the Northwest Territories, Francois plays a critical role creating programs and environments for Indigenous leadership in health research.

Francois is an Officer of the Order of Canada and has an honorary doctorate of law from Kwantlen Polytechnic University. Ultimately, however, his well-being and strength continue to derive from his relationships with family and the ancestral lands of the Denesųłiné.

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Rassi Nashalik is an Inuk Elder committed to the promotion and preservation of Inuit Qaujimajatuqanfit (traditional knowledge). She was a highly respected media personality who had a long association with CBC North, travelling extensively across the North, speaking with northern peoples and understanding their concerns. She has produced award-winning programs celebrating northern achievements, as well as highlighting problems such as youth suicide.  Early in her career, she served on the frontline of health care as a community health representative in Pangnirtung, Nunavut.

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Denise McDonald, BEd, MEd held leadership roles in education, health and research in the Northwest Territories. This included roles as Superintendent of Education for the Beaufort Delta Education Council, Regional Wellness Director for the Gwich’in Tribal Council, and Director of Research Development for the Institute of Circumpolar Health Research. As an adjunct professor at the University of Alberta, Denise supports connections to community-based research in Inuvik and provides mentorship and support to students. Her focus is on applying traditional knowledge, community-based research, and knowledge translation through Indigenous governments and northern communities.

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For more than two decades, John has worked to preserve, revive and celebrate the culture and language of the Tłįchǫ people, particularly through land-based programs. He is experienced in the area of land claims and self-government negotiation and implementation work in community service and with government agencies in the Tłįchǫ region.

John is committed to advancing education opportunities in the north and supporting research that is grounded in Tłįchǫ cosmology. In his role with the Tłįchǫ Research and Training Institute and senior advisor to the Tłįchǫ Ndek’àowo (Tłįchǫ government), he advises and collaborates at the Institute for Circumpolar Health Research.  His work includes participating in research projects as a co-investigator and traditional knowledge holder; co-supervising graduate students applying traditional knowledge methods in their research; and, lecturing as invited.

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Dr. Laurie-Ann Lines is a member of the Yellowknives Dene First Nation (YKDFN) from Ndilǫ, Northwest Territories and a Researcher at the Institute for Circumpolar Health Research. She is a recognized Vanier scholar and graduated in spring 2024 with her PhD in Health Promotion and Socio-behavioural Sciences from the University of Alberta School of Public Health with the Dean’s Gold Medal. She developed a model for using strength-based approaches to Indigenous health research.

Dr. Lines’ research portfolio centres on creating innovative, engaging methods; applying community-based participatory principles; and integrating Indigenous distinctions-based cultural practices. She has conducted research for over 15 years, starting as a community liaison working with researchers, working through graduate school, and leading research projects aligned with community priorities.

Her research with Indigenous communities primarily engages community members and youth as co-researchers through land-based activities and arts-based methods. Dr. Lines has collaborated with youth to construct creative products centred on land-based activities or traditional camps, using art media including PhotoVoice, 3D animation and motion capture, virtual reality participatory videos, murals, and theatre. She has expertise in developing and delivering innovative post-secondary programs and curriculum that incorporate Western Science and Dene Traditional Knowledge and pedagogies.