Research has been actively conducted in the Tłı̨chǫ region over the last century, frequently with little or no community oversight and involvement. While much past research only served the goals of academia, government and the corporate sector, the purpose of Tłıc̨hǫ research has increasingly shifted to support local goals to sustain Tłıc̨hǫ lands, language, culture and way of life. Dedats’eetsaa will support this shift by ensuring that research projects have full community buy-in and are built on meaningful partnerships with Tłı̨chǫ leadership and communities. We support our research goals by:
- Supporting and facilitating research projects and activities to meaningfully involve our elders and youth;
- supporting and facilitating research projects and activities to build capacity and train Tłıchǫ researchers, students and community liaisons;
- developing and using Indigenous research design and community methodologies, and supporting research partners to do so;
- maintaining this website, which includes information about Tłı̨chǫ research, culture and history, and information about ongoing and past research projects in the region;
- developing a Tłıchǫ digital database of oral history, maps, photographs, video and other documentary resources, and working with researchers who wish to use these resources; and
- reviewing research proposals submitted for licensing through the Aurora Research Institute and providing support and assistance to licensed research projects.