News, Politics

Assembly Of First Nations Chief Visits NWT Community, Leaders

Image:  Leona Mackenzie
Image: Leona Mackenzie

Last month the Canadian community of Behchoko received an important visitor.

National Chief Shawn A-in-chut Atleo, of the Assembly of First Nations, travelled to the remote northern community on Oct. 30.

There, he met with the leaders of the Tłı̨chǫ government and toured the Chief Jimmy Bruneau and Elizabeth Mackenzie schools.

Behchokǫ is 100 kilometres northwest of Yellowknife in the Northwest Territories (NWT).

The Tłı̨chǫ government is one of several First Nations governments created in Canada through a modern treaty negotiation process between the First Nations and the Government of Canada. The Tłı̨chǫ government was established in 2005.

Chief Atleo had a full day of activities in Behchokǫ, beginning with a lunch at the Chief Jimmy Bruneau High School with Tłı̨chǫ chiefs

Image:  Leona Mackenzie
Image: Leona Mackenzie

and advisors.

He also toured the school and stopped at a tent used for cultural programs for hot bannock, tea and hand games.

Atleo addressed the high school classes on the importance of education and pride in their aboriginal ancestry.

He then met with the Tłı̨chǫ chiefs to discuss topics of mutual interest such as relationships with both territorial and federal governments, mining interests in the NWT and the protection of the northern environment.

Atleo is in his second term as National Chief of the Assembly of First Nations. He believes strongly in the importance of education. He travels across Canada as an advocate (supporter) of Canada’s First Nations people.

Image:  Leona Mackenzie
Image: Leona Mackenzie

CURRICULUM CONNECTIONS
By Kathleen Tilly

Writing/Discussion Prompt
What is the Tłı̨chǫ government? Use information from the article and your own research to answer the ‘5 Ws’ about the Tłı̨chǫ government – who, what, when, where and why.

Reading Prompt: Extending Understanding
How is the Tłįcho government similar or different than the government of Canada (the federal government)? Compare and contrast these two governments using a T-chart.

 

Junior
Extend understanding of texts by connecting the ideas in them to their own knowledge, experience, and insights, to other familiar texts, and to the world around them (OME, Reading: 1.6).

Intermediate
Extend understanding of texts, including increasingly complex or difficult texts, by connecting the ideas in them to their own knowledge, experience, and insights, to other familiar texts, and to the world around them (OME, Reading: 1.6).

Grammar Feature: Pronunciation
This article is focused on the  Tłįcho government. How do you say Tłįcho? Use the internet to find out how to pronounce this new word.