The role of indigenous local knowledge (ILK) in enhancing indigenous security in the Mackenzie Valley, Northwest Territories, Canada

This chapter examines the incorporation of Indigenous local knowledge (ILK) in the environmental co-management regime in the Mackenzie Valley, Northwest Territories, (NWT), Canada. In the Mackenzie Valley, ILK is part of environmental assessment legislation as well as comprehensive land claim agreements; however, it is unclear how ILK is used by the co-management boards in decision-making. I conclude that while the co-management boards provide extensive procedural opportunities for Aboriginals to volunteer ILK, a critical examination of the programs incorporating ILK in the post-EA phase shows a tendency among developers to choose aspects of ILK that are easily blended with Western scientific data points.