Yellowhead Institute Expands Focus on Northern Indigenous Issues

The Yellowhead Institute, an Indigenous-led think tank based in Toronto, is expanding its focus on issues affecting the Dene and Inuit peoples. The institute aims to enhance its presence in northern Canada through research and writing on critical topics such as Indigenous governance, self-determination, land and resource management, devolution, and modern treaty implementation.

Executive Director Hayden King emphasizes the necessity for “more and diverse Northern voices” in discussions surrounding Indigenous sovereignty and social issues. He advocates for reshaping the relationship between Indigenous and non-Indigenous Canadians by offering both critiques and solutions. King stated, “We have conversations around modern treaty implementation, unresolved questions of racism and settlement in the North, devolution, the land, and resource regime.” Historically, these discussions have largely been dominated by non-Indigenous scholars and experts.

In an effort to broaden these discussions, the Yellowhead Institute encourages emerging Northern Indigenous writers to contribute ideas to its editorial team. King highlights the importance of mentorship and support for young voices in the writing and editing processes. He noted, “Critical Indigenous voices in the North haven’t necessarily had a lot of platforms to express those ideas.”

Founded in 2018 and affiliated with the Faculty of Arts at Toronto Metropolitan University, the Yellowhead Institute publishes research reports, policy papers, and educational resources on a wide range of issues. It receives funding from various private foundations focused on social justice, including the Laidlaw Foundation and the Inspirit Foundation.

King critiques larger, well-funded think tanks, such as the Fraser Institute and the Canadian Taxpayers Federation, for having a “monopoly on the research” that influences Canadian policy. He believes that Yellowhead North can be instrumental as Canada moves to develop significant resource projects in the North by providing alternative perspectives.

Community Engagement and Initiatives

Yellowhead North plans to launch several initiatives alongside its research efforts. One of the initial projects is the Inuksiutit Toolkit, a Nunavut-based resource designed to support Inuit food systems and sovereignty. This toolkit includes information on Inuit food traditions, nutrition, and preparation, providing practical resources for communities.

The institute has established relationships with Northern governments and advocacy organizations, advising members of Parliament on various policy issues. Its reports on child welfare have been presented in parliamentary and Senate committees, showcasing its influence in shaping policy discussions. King mentioned that a Yellowhead Institute “red paper” on land dispossession is widely utilized by advocates asserting Indigenous jurisdiction.

Dr. Crystal Gail Fraser, an associate professor of history and Native studies at the University of Alberta, expressed enthusiasm about Yellowhead’s growing attention to northern issues. She noted that the institute’s research and critical thought are instrumental, and its writers are “extremely attentive” to relationships within Indigenous communities. Fraser remarked that academic institutions are gradually shifting away from exploitative models, with Yellowhead leading by example in Indigenous-engaged research.

She highlighted the importance of the institute’s work, including its tracking of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission’s 94 calls to action and its analysis of Canada’s relationship with Indigenous peoples during the COVID-19 pandemic. Fraser praised the institute’s treaty map as an “innovative” project that addresses land use, treaties, and Indigenous sovereignty. “They really focus on the issues of our people and of our histories in a way that is helpful to Indigenous Nations and communities,” she said.

Through its efforts, the Yellowhead Institute aims to provide a platform for Indigenous voices and contribute to the ongoing discourse on sovereignty, governance, and resource management in northern Canada.