Pictured (left to right): Marlisa Brown, Peter Greenland and Jacey Hagen-Firth.
Three Treaty enthusiasts joined forces in the Fall of 2021 to start a passion project to learn about Treaties in a healthy learning environment. Initially starting off as a book club, it evolved into a virtual teach-in series. Where Treaty Talks created space and shared company with Elders, Knowledge Keepers, and community for participants to learn about experiences, perspectives, and expertise about Treaties across Treaty 11 and Treaty 8, within what is now known as the Northwest Territories.
Our Story
What we do:
Treaty Talks NWT is an Indigenous young-adult initiative that facilitates Treaty education and awareness in the Northwest Territories, hosted by Dene Nahjo. Rooted in the teachings and sovereignty of our Elders, Ancestors and Community.
Meet the Treaty Talks Team
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Marlisa Brown
Organizer
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Jacey Firth-Hagen
Organizer
A little about Jacey:
Tsuk Tsal (Jacey Firth-Hagen) is a proud Dinjii Zhuh Khaii Łuk ts'àt Nihtat Gwich'in from Gwich'in and Inuvialuit Lands (Travaillant River and Inuvik, Northwest Territories).
She co-created #SpeakGwichinToMe and Treaty Talks NWT. She is a Yukon College graduate and is working on her Early Learning and Child Care Certificate.
She is an introvert, foodie and Netflix connoisseur with a love of language, land, culture, community, and wellness.
A little about Marlisa:
Marlisa Brown is Nihtat Gwich’in and of settler ancestry. Originally from Inuvik, NT; she now lives and is raising her two young sons in TheBacha (Fort Smith, NT).
Marlisa’s passion for learning about Treaties was instilled by her family and community. They inspired her to learn about the Gwich’in Comprehensive Land Claim Agreement and other Modern Treaty Agreements, especially from Indigenous perspectives, experiences and knowledges. In 2021, Marlisa published her Northern Jane Glassco Fellowship Policy Paper, “Reconnecting to our Relations: The Need for Land Claim and Self-Government Agreement Education in the Northwest Territories”.
Three treaty nerds joined forces in the fall of 2021. We started out as a deadly book club to learn about Treaties and we applied to the Arctic Inspiration Prize - Youth Prize a few months later, and won! Since then we have done Treaty Talks Teach-Ins on Zoom and an on the land Treaty Camp! Here’s to more Treaty-ness in the future.
Awards
Come to a Talk
We are always planning to see what the next thing will be! Right now, we are organizing next steps, dreaming, and of course, always learning. To keep up, check back with us soon or follow us on social media.