Alisa Blake was taught to bead as a child by her mother and grandmother.

The offices of the Land and Water Boards of the Mackenzie Valley will be closed Monday, November 11 in observance of Remembrance day. Offices will reopen Tuesday morning. 

Poppy earrings in thumbnail by Kimberley Mackeinzo.

Kimberley Mackeinzo began beading during the Covid-19 pandemic as a way to ground herself and better understand who she is as an Indigenous person.

Mackeinzo, a Sahtu Beneficiary from Délı̨nę, is November's Land and Water Boards of the Mackenzie Valley beading artist of the month, chosen for her “Lest We Forget” poppy-themed earrings.

The pandemic "was a very isolating time of everybody’s lives, especially for me, somebody who is in recovery,” she explained, noting she has been sober since 2018.

The Land and Water Boards of the Mackenzie Valley (LWBs) invite individuals and firms to submit a proposal for the provision of legal services in some or all of the areas specified below for a five-year term beginning on December 9, 2024.

The Wek'èezhı̀ı Land and Water Board is eager to connect with YOU! Learn about our vital work and discover how your feedback and knowledge can help us protect and manage Wek'èezhı̀ı land and resources for generations to come. This is a great opportunity to come together over a delicious meal and engage in meaningful conversations about our land and water resources.

Date: October 16, 2024.

Time: 5:00 PM

Location: Johnny Nitsiza Culture Centre, Whatì NT. 

The Land and Water Boards of the Mackenzie Valley (LWBs) are thrilled to announce the launch of our Indigenous Flower Beading Series, an opportunity for talented artists to share their skills and celebrate the rich heritage of Northern Indigenous beadwork. Over the next 12 months, we will highlight the beauty of Indigenous floral designs, each month featuring a new theme. This is more than just an art project—it’s a way to keep traditional art forms alive and celebrate Indigenous culture through storytelling in beads.

https://nwtboardforum.com/#an-exciting-opportunity-awaits

This is notice that the Public Hearing for the Arctic Canadian Diamond Company Ltd. (Arctic) has been cancelled. The Public Hearing has been cancelled because Arctic has withdrawn its Application (See Letter from Arctic). The Board offers its sincere apologies for this inconvenience as it understands the efforts made by Parties to prepare for and attend the Public Hearing.  

The Mackenzie Valley Environmental Impact Review Board (Review Board) and the Gwich’in Land and Water Board are hiring for the position of Community Liaison based in Inuvik, Northwest Territories.

Job description:
Reporting to the Manager of Indigenous Outreach, Engagement & Partnership, the Community Liaison provides information and education services to communities and community members about the importance and impact of environmental assessment and regulatory activities in the Mackenzie Valley. The Community Liaison:

A new scholarship opportunity is available for current or future students in forestry or wildfire management. 

The Adam Yeadon Memorial Scholarship is awarded to Northwest Territories full-time post-secondary students enrolled in diploma, degree program or other approved training programs related to forestry or wildfire management to encourage and support northerners interested in pursuing an education in these fields.

Available funding 

In Adam’s memory, the following is available: 

The Land and Water Boards (LWBs) of the Mackenzie Valley are pleased to announce the release of the revised Reference Bulletin: Water Use (Bulletin) and supporting Annex A: Interpretation and Reasoning – Reference Bulletin: Water Use.

On behalf of the planning committee for the Resource Co-management Workshop, we’d like to thank the host community, Łıı́d́ lıı̨ ̨Kų́ę́ (Fort Simpson), and all individuals and organizations who participated on March 26 & 27, 2024. The event was hosted by the: Land and Water Boards of the Mackenzie Valley (Gwich’in, Sahtú, Mackenzie Valley, and Wek’èezhìı), the Government of the Northwest Territories (GNWT), Crown-Indigenous Relations & Northern Affairs Canada (CIRNAC), and the Mackenzie Valley Environmental Impact Review Board (Review Board).

The Sahtu Land and Water Board is resuming normal operations effective immediately. We wish to extend our deepest gratitude to those individuals and organizations who contributed to keeping the Community of Fort Good Hope safe!

The Land and Water Boards of the Mackenzie Valley (LWBs) wish to inform the public of the status of the update to the LWBs’ Engagement Guidelines for Applicants and Holders of Water Licences and Land Use Permits (the Guidelines).

The Land and Water Boards (LWBs) are pleased to announce the release of the Guidelines for Municipal Sludge Management.

As of April 2024, the Land and Water Boards of the Mackenzie Valley (LWBs) have implemented a new policy regarding fee exemptions for Indigenous Governments and community governments. For details, see the letter to CIRNAC and the GNWT explaining the new policy. 

The Sahtu Land and Water Board (SLWB) recognizes the recent evacuation order issued for the community of Fort Good Hope due to nearby wildfires and will be temporarily ceasing operations. The SLWB will continue to monitor the situation closely and reassess in a few days. All inquiries should be directed to Paul Dixon via email or by phone at 867-445-4094.

The Land and Water Boards of the Mackenzie Valley (LWBs) are inviting comments and recommendations on a DRAFT of the LWB Reference Bulletin: Water Use (the Draft Bulletin).

Please join us for an evening of food and discussion for the Tea and Talk Engagement Session.  We will be in Lı́ı́dlı̨ı̨ Kų́ę́ (Fort Simpson) at the Recreation Centre on Tuesday, March 26, 2024 from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m.  . How would you like to be engaged on Land Use Permitting and Water Licencing processes in your community? Everyone is welcome! (after the Resource Co-management Workshop on Day 1)  Food will be served.

The Resource Co-management Workshop will be held in the Łı́ı́dlı̨ı̨ Kų́ę́ (Fort Simpson) Recreation Centre on March 26 and 27, 2024.  Please see the draft agenda below (subject to change).  For registration, click here.  

Come join the Wek’èezhı̀ı Land and Water Board Team!  Become part of the family of the Land and Water Boards of the Mackenzie Valley.   We foster a culture of balance where we value both work and personal commitments.  We work in fast- paced dynamic environment.   We can accommodate a flexible work schedule to maintain a full-filling balance of life and work.  We support our team in their professional development growth plan.  If you are interested in joining our team, please apply!  Please see the job ad below for details.

The Resource Co-management Workshop will be hosted in Łı́ı́dlı̨ı̨ Kų́ę́ (Fort Simpson).  The workshop is hosted by the Land and Water Boards of the Mackenzie Valley, the Mackenzie Valley Review Board, the Government of the Northwest Territories, and the Government of Canada.