Self-government negotiation and land claim implementation

Fox Consulting has provided several NWT Indigenous governments with governance advisory services related to self-government negotiations and land claim implementation, including the Inuvialuit Regional Corporation, the Gwich’in Tribal Council, the Délı̨nę Got’ı̨nę Government, the Nihtat Gwich’in Council, Fort Providence Metis Council, and Behdzi Ahda” First Nation and Ayoni Keh Land Corporation of Colville Lake.

Currently, Dr. Stephanie Irlbacher-Fox is the Principal Investigator of a $2.5 million national research project funded by the Social Science and Humanities Research Council (SSHRC) on Modern Treaty Implementation, and advises NWT Indigenous governments on a range of self government negotiations and implementation matters.

Fox Consulting has also spearheaded three NWT Indigenous Negotiators conferences where negotiators from across the territory share learnings and best practices and hear from experts on key negotiations issues and topics. The first conference was hosted by the Behdzi Ahda First Nation in 2015, the second hosted by the Inuvialuit Regional Corporation in February 2019, and the third hosted by the Nihtat Gwich’in Council in February 2020.

Délı̨nę Self-Government Self-Government 2003-2017

The firm’s principal Dr. Stephanie Irlbacher-Fox was on the negotiating team of the Délı̨nę First Nation as they pursued the first community-based self-government agreement of its kind in Canada. The Agreement created the new Délı̨nę Got’ı̨nę Government, which brought together the Délı̨nę First Nation, Land Corporation and municipality with new self-government authorities.

Her role included:

• supporting the Chief Negotiator on a range of matters under negotiation;

• overseeing an effective ratification process for the agreement, including overseeing the development of an extensive suite of communications tools;

• leading the development of the Pre-Effective Date Plan, including considerations for recruitment, capacity building and training;

• bringing together the right people at the community level to conceptualize and plan the new government; and

• acting as Implementation Director, responsible for overseeing technical aspects of setting up the Délı̨nę Got’ı̨nę Government.

Northern and Indigenous governance and institutional development

Fox Consulting has played a key role in designing and establishing innovative new northern and Indigenous institutions in the Northwest Territories through involvement in rights-based negotiations, and academic research.

Fox Consulting has led several research initiatives funded by the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council (SSHRC) including a Partnership Development Grant (2011-2013), Insight Development Grant (2013-2014), as well as several SSHRC, Canadian Institutes for Health Research (CIHR), government and privately-funded research projects on Northern political, social and economic development.

Fox Consulting principal Stephanie Irlbacher-Fox has also helped to advance thinking on broad governance questions through her publications and collaborations. For example, in 2013 she spearheaded a special issue of the publication Northern Public Affairs which focussed on building policy capacity for Indigenous Governments and looking at the relationship between governance and the economy in the North.

Hotıì ts'eeda (NWT SPOR SUPPORT Unit ), hosted by the Tłįchǫ Government  

2017 – 2023

Hotıì ts'eeda is a research support centre for community members, organizations and researchers involved in Northwest Territories health and health research. The project is funded through a grant from the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR) with matching funds from Indigenous Government and other organizational partners in the NWT, and is part of the CIHR’s Strategy for Patient-Oriented Research (SPOR).

The vision of this initiative is to move control and ownership of research back to Indigenous peoples and communities. It supports health research and training that is rooted in Dene Naowo, Inuvialuit and Metis knowledge and responds to the needs of patients, communities and governments.

Fox Consulting principal, Stephanie Irlbacher-Fox was vital to the inception of this project. Working under the guidance and vision of Indigenous government representatives, she developed the proposal, gathered public and Indigenous governments and community partners to support the initiative, and set up the organization as a department of a self governing Indigenous Government after the funding was granted.

Stephanie is the founding Scientific Director of Hotıì ts’eeda, responsible for its overall scientific and administrative operations. As of 2023 she is the Scientific Lead.

The funding associated with this initiative is significant: a $16-million research grant over ten years that has leveraged an additional $30 million in matching and additional funding. Stephanie manages eleven staff in addition to contractors and summer students. She has designed the project to build capacity over time, create significant employment opportunities for Indigenous people, ensuring it leaves a sustainable legacy.

Working now as an occasional advisor, Stephanie has successfully transitioned this initiative to new staff and leadership, to take it successfully into the future.

National Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada Partnership Grant - Implementing Modern Treaties (Carleton University)
2017 - 2023, hosted by the Tłįchǫ Government

https://moderntreaties.ca

In 2014, the Land Claim Agreements Coalition (LCAC) began to identify a need for land claim implementation research. Stephanie played a key role in developing the research project proposal which secured a five-year, $2.5 million grant from the Social Science and Humanities Research Council (SSHRC) to pursue this research in 2017. An additional 1/3 matching contributions was secured from partners.

The research into how Treaties are implemented in Canada is being guided by academics and Indigenous governments who will examine how Treaties are implemented in Canada. Stephanie was the Principal Investigator and Project Director.

Stephanie is working with LCAC members to undertake land claim implementation research in partnership with academics. Results are intended to provide evidence that can be provided to policy makers to improve land claim implementation.

The research is focused on five may theme areas. Each theme is co-led by academics and practitioners. They include:

1. Land Relationship (Dr. John B. Zoe (Tlicho), Tlicho Government and Dr. Hayden King (Anishnaabe), Ryerson University);

2. Intergovernmental Relations and Multilevel Governance (Mr. Bobby Clark (Nisgaa), Nisgaa Lisms Government; Dr. Martin Papillon, Université de Montréal);

3. Fiscal Relationships (Matt Mehaffey, Carcross Tagish First Nation; Dr. Frances Abele, Carleton University);

4. Evaluation and Socioeconomic Issues (Mr. Alastair Campbell, Nunavut Tunngavik  Inc.; Dr. Thierry Rodon, Laval University); and,

5. Indigenous and Settler Law (Bruce Uviliq (Inuit), Nunavut Tungavik Inc; Dr. Janna Promislow,  Thompson  Rivers University).

Stephanie’s role has been to develop the concept for the project, prepare the grant proposal, and assemble the research team. Now that the project is underway, as Principal Investigator, she leads by monitoring progress, making connections, supporting relationships and overseeing results, and leading publications. The Grant Administrator is Ms. Gen Harrison at Carleton University.

Updated July 2023