Client, Date and Location
- Gwich’in Tribal Council and Gwich’in Development Corporation
2020-2021
Gwich’in Settlement Area, Northwest Territories, Canada – Gwich’in communities of Inuvik, Aklavik, Fort McPherson and Tsiigehtchic – (Desk based)
Subject Matter Area
- Community Development, Environmental Protection, Natural and Cultural Resources, Social, Health and Education Policy
Category
- Strategic Planning and Organizational Development
Approach
Daitch & Associates was commissioned to study Indigenous Development Corporations across the North and to assess several models, alongside the Gwich’in business model – in order to inform the communities as they re-examined their Gwich’in Development Corporation model.
The research was prepared through conversations with Gwich’in leaders, and by reviewing relevant Gwich’in documents. The team also reviewed relevant Indigenous business development frameworks to further develop a method for comparing and assessing eleven different Indigenous Development Corporations. In total, 13 interviews with senior executives from these various corporations were completed to inform this work.
Result
The study supports the GTC and Gwich’in Development Corporation in its discussions and decision-making around their current development corporation structure. The study highlights areas that are most relevant for Gwich’in, with respect to governance structure, vision, values and economic development strategy. As these are grounded in Gwich’in culture, the analysis is anchored in a Gwich’in perspective on well-being for Gwich’in participants. The study addressed community needs in health and wellness, protecting culture, supporting healing and well-being, and promoting economic self-sufficiency.
The work builds upon previous findings on Gwich’in well-being, delivered as part of the Gwich’in Communities Infrastructure Strategy (2020).