Latest news with #JacksonLafferty
Yahoo
6 days ago
- General
- Yahoo
Tłı̨chǫ tree-planting project paused after death of helicopter pilot
A helicopter pilot who died Monday following a crash near Highway 3 had been part of a reforestation project, the Tłı̨chǫ government said in a news release Thursday. "This loss is felt deeply across our communities," Tłı̨chǫ Grand Chief Jackson Lafferty stated. On Monday afternoon, RCMP said the helicopter crashed about 1.5 kilometres from Highway 3, near Behchokǫ̀. The pilot died from his injuries. The Transportation Safety Board of Canada is investigating and has said it is working with Great Slave Helicopters — which the helicopter was registered to — to collect information. "We are proud of and grateful to the medical staff, tree planters, wildlife monitors, RCMP, and paramedics who responded swiftly and worked tirelessly in an effort to save the pilot's life," the Tłı̨chǫ government wrote. In its news release, the Tłı̨chǫ government said it would be pausing the reforestation project for "a period of reflection" and to prioritize its team's health and safety. After that, the government said, it "[hopes] to continue this meaningful work with both grief and gratitude in our hearts." The reforestation project aims to plant 12 million more trees on Tłı̨chǫ land.
CBC
11-06-2025
- Politics
- CBC
'Another historical event,' Tłı̨chǫ grand chief says of new female chief in Behchokǫ
Tłı̨chǫ leaders say residents have opted for change after Bertha Rabesca-Zoe was voted to replace longtime chief Clifford Daniels to lead Behchokǫ̀, N.W.T., after Monday's election. Tłı̨chǫ Grand Chief Jackson Lafferty and Chief-elect Rabesca-Zoe say it's the first time a woman will lead the community. "I think being the first female chief has a lot of significance for many people, especially our young ladies," Rabesca-Zoe said. "With education and determination and commitment, you can achieve whatever goals you set for yourself." Rabesca-Zoe will become the third female chief out of four Tłı̨chǫ communities, joining Wekweètı̀ Chief Adeline Football and Gamètı̀ Chief Doreen Arrowmaker. Rabesca-Zoe described Behchokǫ̀ as a predominantly Catholic community and said she thinks some still carry the belief that women shouldn't lead but Monday's election shows a push for new direction. "I think people just generally were ready for change," she said. Lafferty also pointed to the fact that many of the new councillors are young, something that he said also signifies the public's want for fresh ideas for the region. Lafferty recognized outgoing Behchokǫ̀ chief Clifford Daniels, who served for 16 years, and outgoing Whatı̀ chief Alfonz Nitsiza. He said he's looking forward to working with all of the new and returning leaders. "It's another historical event," he said. "Things are changing with us." For Rabesca-Zoe, the first order of business will be to meet with council to set priorities. She said she's keen to get to work on tackling the housing and drug crises in her community. She says she's considering a 24-hour blockade to stop the flow of drugs into Behchokǫ̀ and will look forward to hearing other ideas on how best to serve the community.
CBC
08-03-2025
- Politics
- CBC
12 million more trees to be planted on Tłı̨chǫ lands following $53M investment
Money to be used on building tree nursery and training for long-term restoration work Image | Spruce cones Caption: Cones from white spruce trees were collected on Tłı̨chǫ land last fall as part of a tree planting agreement that had already been struck. The federal and Tłı̨chǫ government are expanding that project now to plant 13 million trees in total, in the N.W.T. (Liny Lamberink/CBC) A total of 13 million trees are now expected to be planted on Tłı̨chǫ lands in the N.W.T. in the coming years following a joint investment of $53 million from the federal and Tłı̨chǫ governments. The Tłı̨chǫ government signed an agreement with Tree Canada and Let's Plant Trees in 2023 to plant one million trees over the course of three years around Behchokǫ̀, with half the money flowing from the federal government and the other half being raised through sponsorships. Work has already been underway since last year to harvest seeds from local tree species and to grow them in nurseries in the South. On Friday, the Tłı̨chǫ and federal governments announced a new deal to plant another 12 million on Tłı̨chǫ lands over the next seven years from locally-harvested seeds. This time, Canada's 2 Billion Trees program is putting nearly $45 million into the project while the Tłı̨chǫ government is pitching in more than $8 million. The money will also be used to build greenhouses for a tree nursery, incorporate cultural values into the project, and to provide training for long-term restoration activities, reads a news release from Natural Resources Canada. The goal of the project is to restore ecosystems, create jobs and bring back boreal caribou habitat. The release said it's also expected to have other long-term benefits like reducing greenhouse gas emissions, increasing resilience to climate exchange and providing protection from future wildfires. "The Tłı̨chǫ government is pleased to take a leadership role to foster the healing of the land after devastating wildfires," said Tłı̨chǫ Grand Chief Jackson Lafferty in the release. "Together, we will work to counter climate change through the reforestation of vital wildlife habitat and support training and employment opportunities for those in our communities." Jonathan Wilkinson, Canada's minister of energy and natural resources, said in a statement that the funding will play an important role bringing benefits to the Tłı̨chǫ territory, and help the federal government's goal of planting two billion trees over the next decade. "Through this project, we are showing how collaborative work with First Nations can ensure that the right tree is planted at the right place at the right time for the benefit of all Canadians," he said.
