This fonds consists of audio reels, audiocassettes, microfilm and textual records that were created by linguist Dr. Robert Howren beginning in the late 1960s to 1982. The textual material is comprised of 28 notebooks containing his field notes, primarily relating to his work with Tłı̨chǫ (Dogrib) speakers. They are in several series: 1967, 1969, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1977, and 1982. The sound recordings, recorded mainly in Tłı̨chǫ (Dogrib) but also in Dëne Sųłıné (Chipewyan), Dinjii Zhuʼ Ginjik (Gwich'in), Dene Kǝdǝ́ (North Slavey), Dene Zhatıé (South Slavey), Tse'khene (Sekani), Denaakk'e (Koyukon), Tutchone, Upper Tanana, Tanacross, Dane-zaa (Beaver), Dakelh (Carrier), include 111 audiocassettes and 178 audio reels. The audio reels range in date from 1957 to the late 1970s; the audiocassettes date mostly from 1982. Howren's collection also includes recordings gathered from other linguists and researchers.

There are 6 reels of microfilm, five of which relate to Slave language grammars and lexicons that likely date from the 1950s or 1960s. The other reel, dated 1971, is marked only with the title Golla, V. Hupa. The photographic material consists of 35 mm negatives and appears to be a copy of Father Edouard Guoy's French -Slavey Dictionary (Dictionairre francais - esclase) from 1930.

The images document traditional food preparation techniques of the Inuvialuit, including the use of the drying rack at fish camps; Inuvialuit elders; as well as archaeological sites, such as burial sites, sod houses, and the corrals once used to herd reindeer. The images also document the archaeological excavation team and their own camps. Examples of scientific phenomena such as ice push and shoreline erosion are shown. In addition there are photographs of the DEW-Line, Tuktoyaktuk harbour, heritage sites, oil exploration and oil rigs at McKinley Bay, and artificial islands. Aerial photographs document wildlife, Mackenzie Delta communities, and geographic features such as pingoes. Caribou, swans, eider ducks, siksik (ground squirrel), the jellyfish of McKinley Bay and other wildlife are shown. Locations include Tuktoyaktuk, Reindeer Station, Anderson River, Whitefish Station, Stanton, Warren Point, Nicholson Point, Kittigazuit, Husky Lake, Wood Bay, and North Star Harbour. Specifically in Tuktoyaktuk, there are photographs of significant buildings used formerly or still being used. These include the Roman Catholic Church, the Roman Catholic Mission Warehouse, 'Our Lady of Lourdes' (ship), the RCMP barracks, the Anglican Church, and the Hudson's Bay Company staff house.

The audio consists of interviews with elders from the Tuktoyaktuk region on various topics such as toponyms, hunting, and traditional life. The corresponding transcripts make up the 30 cm of textual records.

Video footage includes drum dancing, traditional food preperation and interviews with elders regarding tradtional place names.

This fonds consists of records documenting the activities of the Gwich’in Social and Cultural Institute from its establishment in 1993 until its transition into the Gwich’in Tribal Council’s Department of Cultural Heritage in 2016. The fonds includes some records of the Department of Cultural Heritage from 2016 until 2018. The material has been arranged into 38 series based on seven functional categories:

• Administration includes nine series documenting the governance and administration of the GSCI. The series included in this category are Gwich’in Tribal Council (426-S01); Governance (426-S02); Executive Director (426-S03); Research Director and General Administrative Materials (426-S04); Finance (426-S05); Correspondence (426-S06); Gwich’in Organizations, Communities and Events (426-S07); Other Organizations, Institutions and Associations (426-S08); and Website (426-S09). These series include meeting packages and minutes; strategic planning materials including GSCI’s five-year plans; annual reports; GSCI Executive Director files from 2004-2016; office, staff, project and other general administrative materials; financial statements and reporting materials; funding proposals, applications, reports, contribution agreements and service contracts; correspondence files; meeting materials, minutes, reports, proposals, presentation materials and informational materials related to Gwich’in and non-Gwich’in organizations, institutions and associations; website planning materials including funding applications, contribution agreements, financial statements and content planning materials; and general correspondence within each series.
• Consultation with Government includes three series documenting GSCI’s consultation and interaction with the federal and territorial governments. The series included in this category are Government of Canada (426-S10), Government of the Northwest Territories (426-S11) and Government of Yukon (426-S12). These series include correspondence; proposals; reports; funding proposals and reporting materials; workshop and presentation materials; informational materials; and curriculum planning and development materials.
• Traditional Knowledge and Land Use Policy and Regulation includes three series documenting the GSCI’s work in traditional knowledge policy development, land use planning and management and permitting and licensing. The series included in this category are Traditional Knowledge Policy (426-S13); Land Use Planning and Management (426-S14); and Researchers, Permits, Licences and Use Agreements (426-S15). These series include correspondence; proposals; funding and financial materials; workshop and presentation materials; discussion papers; reference materials; reports; policy copies; permit and licence applications and reports; research and data-sharing agreements; researcher files; and project materials provided to GSCI by researchers including planning materials, interview materials, photographs, videos and films, theses, reports and articles.
• Repatriation includes two series documenting the GSCI’s work in repatriating Gwich’in heritage materials and knowledge through a number of projects. The series included in this category are Gwich’in Traditional Caribou Skin Clothing Project (426-S16) and Repatriation Projects (426-S17). These series consist of project, planning and produced records including correspondence; funding proposals, contribution agreements and terms of reference; reports; copies of publications; audio and video recordings; and photographs, slides and negatives.
• Recognition of Historic and Cultural Sites includes three series documenting the GSCI’s work for the recognition, protection and management of Gwich’in historic and cultural sites. The series included in this category are Gwich’in Territorial Park (426-S18); Burial Sites (426-S19); and Historic Sites and Heritage Rivers (426-S20). The series include correspondence; materials related to the GSCI’s work in developing a vision and management plan for the Gwich’in Territorial Park including terms of reference, meeting materials, planning materials and copies of the management plan; funding materials, reports, maps and audio recordings from projects GSCI conducting in the Gwich’in Territorial Park; GTC Burial Site Guidelines; notes and information from the Tsiigehtchic Graveyard Mapping Project; and materials related to the nomination and management of national and territorial historic sites and heritage rivers including nomination applications, funding materials and service contracts; interview recordings and transcripts; photographs; unveiling ceremony materials; and draft management plans.
• Research and Programs includes 17 series documenting the GSCI’s research projects, programming and activities. These series include project, planning and produced materials, place name database and online mapping materials, conference materials and reference materials. The series included in the category are Oral History and Place Names Projects and Activities (426-S21); Archaeology (426-S22); Gwich’in Renewable Resources Board Traditional Knowledge Work (426-S23); Gwich’in Traditional Knowledge of the Mackenzie Gas Project Area (426-S24); Arctic Red River Headwaters Projects (426-S25); Elder’s Biography Project (426-S26); Gwichya Gwich’in Googwandak (426-S27); Tsiigehtchic Genealogy Workshop (426-S28); Gwich’in Ethnobotany (426-S29); Committee for Original Peoples’ Entitlement (COPE) Recordings (426-S30); Other GSCI Projects (426-S31); Partner Projects (426-S32); Archival Projects (426-S33); Science and Culture Camps (426-S34); Non-Project Publications and Posters (426-S35); Conferences, Workshops and Meetings (426-S36); and Reference Collection (426-S37). These series include correspondence; funding, financial and budget materials; project proposals interview materials; field notes; workshop and presentation materials; reports; GSCI publications including books, articles, brochures and posters; photographs, slides and negatives; audio and video recordings; transcripts; programming materials for science and culture camps; materials related to the documentation, preservation and update of the GSCI’s archival material; conference materials, notes and presentations; and reference materials including books, reports, journals, articles, research manuals, non-GSCI language materials and Gwich’in historical materials.
• Language includes one series documenting the GSCI’s language work and activities outside of research projects. This series is titled Language Work (426-S38) and documents GSCI’s work and relationship with the Gwich’in Language Centre, the development of the Gwich’in Language Plan, GSCI language workshops and projects, and language materials produced by the GSCI. This series includes correspondence; funding and budget materials; workshop materials; immersion camp materials; and dictionary copies, language class materials and other language materials.

This fonds consists of 197 photographs of Dene, Inuit, and members of the clergy in group portraits, hunting with decoys, dogs hauling lumber and the Catholic Church mission boat Immaculata. Locations include: Arctic Red River, Slave River rapids, Bloody Falls, Aklavik, Fort Smith, Coppermine River, Fort Resolution, Herschel Island and St. Albert (Alberta).

This fonds includes records of the Metis Nation (formerly the Metis Association of the NWT) for the period 1974-2000. The records include 981.0 cm, 11 8" floppy disks, and 58 3½" floppy disks of textual records, 9 maps, and 24 photographs of processed records relating to the Metis Association and Metis Nation. The records are divided into six series: Governance, Locals, Chronos, Administration, Membership/Enumeration, and Projects.

Yet to be processed: There are 4500 photographs of Metis Nation staff and events in colour print, b/w print, colour slide and negative formats. Many of the photographs are b/w prints stamped as being from archival institutions, such as the National Archives. Audio recordings include 1800 audio cassettes of oral histories and recordings of the annual general assemblies. Videos include 200 VHS and Umatic format videocassettes with footage of annual general assembly as well as videos produced for the Metis Nation.

Records are primarily the records of the Western Constitutional Forum and the Constitutional Alliance. These records document the organizations' administration, finances, community liaison and public relations activities, research activities and publications, and interactions with member organizations including the Dene Nation, Métis Association, Legislative Assembly, Tungavik Federation of Nunavut (TFN), Inuit Tapirisat of Canada (ITC), Inuvialuit Regional Corporation (IRC), Committee for Original Peoples' Entitlement (COPE).

The records include incorporation records, terms of reference, bylaws, action plans and activity reports, correspondence, audio recordings and minutes of meetings, workshops and conferences, budgets and financial statements, funding agreements, job descriptions, press releases, newspaper articles, newsletters, research papers and reference materials, publications, including audio versions of the pamphlet series in North Slavey (Dene Kǝdǝ́), South Slavey (Dene Zhatıé), Chipewyan, Tłı̨chǫ, Gwich’in, Inuvialuktun, and Inuinnaqtun, speaking notes, presentation slides (textual and photographic), photographs of the signing of the Iqaluit Agreement, and maps showing tentative boundaries, and information relevant to division.

The accession also includes related records from the NCF and member groups of the Forums and Constitutional Alliance (Dene Nation, Metis Association, Legislative Assembly, Tungavik Federation of Nunavut, Inuit Tapirisat of Canada, Inuvialuit Regional Corporation, COPE, and Dene/Métis Claims Secretariat) such as bylaws, meeting minutes, action plans and activity reports, annual reports, resolutions, financial statements, newsletters, discussion papers, correspondence, and press releases.

Records consist of songs, stories and interview transcripts collected by ethnomusicologist Nicole Beaudry in the Sahtu communities of Deline, Tulita and Fort Good Hope in 1988-1992.

Records consist of a handwritten series of manuscripts titled "Indian Stories" by Paul Vaudrack written between 1963 and 1966. These stories and legends are mostly about Gwich'in and Slavey heroes and their wars against other peoples, including the Chipewyan and Inuvialuit. Other topics include legends about the Deluge, traditional hunting and travel.

Records relate to Dene languages, including materials from the Fort Good Hope Research project undertaken by the Government of the Northwest Territories Department of Education from 1981-1983. It also includes several grammars, dictionaries and reports of Dene language studies.

The textual records include published and unpublished texts on Slavey and Tłı̨chǫ (Dogrib) literacy, linguistic and translation, dating from 1959 to the 1990s. The published material is partially religious, and partially linguistic in nature. A large portion of the unpublished material consists of stories told by both Tłı̨chǫ and Slavey speakers on traditional knowledge, legends, and personal stories. The sound recordings are in Tłı̨chǫ. The cassette tapes feature Vital Thomas from 1979 to 1983 providing Tłı̨chǫ field linguistic data, and the CDs were produced between 1999 and 2001 by the Dogrib Translation Committee and feature Marie Louise Bouvier-White reading passages from the Bible in Tłı̨chǫ.

SIL linguists whose work is within this accession include: Steve Barber, Betsy Barber, Gillian Story, Victor Monus, Anita Monus, Constance Naish, William Davidson, June Davidson, Jaap Feenstra, Morina Feenstra and Herbert A. Zimmerman. Dene language consultants include: Sarah Sibbeston, Old Loman, Louis Norwegian, Gabe Sanguez, Jim Sanguez, Jimmie Cholo, Sarah Hardisty, H. Kelly, Jim Lamalice, Laura Sibbeston, Modeste Mackay, Johnny Teetso, Ted Trindell, Fred Andrew, Jimmie Bread, Sarah Lamalice, Fred Tambour, Willie Martel, William Bugghins, Johnny Mackay, Chal Yohin[?], Vital Thomas, J. Konisenta and George Matou.

Records are comprised of the original English and French bound copies of the Tlicho Agreement. This agreement constitutes a land claims and self government agreement between the Tlicho (Dogrib), the Government of the Northwest Territories and the Government of Canada. Both copies were signed and dated August 25, 2003 in Rae-Edzo, Northwest Territories.

These records were created and/or accumulated by June Helm as the result of her work as an anthropologist studying the Tłı̨chǫ people in the Northwest Territories.

The textual records consist of Helm's field notes that were either typewritten on index cards or kept in binders and organized by subject or organized chronologically by field session. In addition, there are field notes from Helm's co-investigators, Beryl Gillespie, Teresa Carterette, Nancy O. Lurie, David Smith and Robert Howren. The field notes are from the communities of Lac La Martre (Whatı̀), Jean Marie River, Rae (Behchokǫ̀), Dettah, and Fort Norman (Tulita). Included in this accession are approximately 230 books which formed part of Helm's extensive library. The books are both contemporary and historical publications on northern themes, and are annotated by Helm. The bulk of the remaining textual records consist of Helm's vertical files that date from 1950-1990s. This includes annotated copies of partial and complete publications, manuscripts and draft publications that include Masters theses and PhD dissertations. These records are primarily authored by others, although there are copies of and drafts of Helm's work. The remaining textual records consist of Helm's ingoing and outgoing correspondence files that date from the 1950s until 2003.

The photographs include a set of 654 black and white negatives that were taken by June Helm during her field work in Behchokǫ̀ and Whatı̀ between 1959-1970. The images of Behchokǫ̀ depict handgames, scenes of the community, winter activities such as travel by dogteam and ice fishing, setting rabbit snares, travel by canoe on the Frank Channel, working with a caribou hide, and people including Jim Fish, John Baze, Mrs. Johnny Simpson, Chief Bruneau, Vital Thomas and Harry Bearlake. The images of Whatı̀ include winter and fall scenes of the community, people, travel by dogteam and airplane, ice fishing, and a Sunday feast. As well, there are approximately 60 copy prints from the National Museum of Canada, Provincial Archives of Alberta and the Smithsonian, as well as negatives, prints and images used in Helm's publications. The remaining photographic material is largely scenic photographs of Behchokǫ̀ from 1970-1979, and photographs of artifacts from 1977.

Records are comprised of an oral history research project entitled "Ulukhaqtuurmiut History: History and Development of the Holman Region, N.W.T." Richard G. Condon undertook the project with the assistance of Julia Ogina. The research project and resulting report documents the history of the Holman Region based on extensive archival research and oral history interviews with elders.

Records include one photocopy of Frank Russell's journal dated from April 26, 1893 to August 18, 1894. The journal documents Russell's trip from Edmonton to Lake Athabasca, and along the Mackenzie River to Fort Good Hope. In addition, it covers a trip between Great Slave Lake and Great Bear Lake, and along the Coppermine River. The journal also contains a limited vocabulary list for the Dogrib (Tlicho), Loucheux (Gwich'in) and Yellowknives Dene. Requests for copies should be directed to the Smithsonian Institute.

Records are comprised of Volume I, Numbers 1-5 and Number 7 of the Eskimo Bulletin. The Northern Administration and Lands Branch, Department of Northern Affairs and National Resources produced the Eskimo Bulletin in order to teach Inuit the English language. The bulletins, date from 1953-1958, and cover various topics such as production of handicrafts and instructions on maintaining engines, as well as provide Inuktitut words and syllabics and the corresponding English words for such topics as animals, tools and equipment, household items, clothing, modes of transportation, body parts, people and colours.

Records are comprised of one RCAF (Royal Canadian Air Force) Bulletin No. 28 entitled "A Brief Outline of the History, Customs and Laws Relating to the Indians and Eskimos of the Canadian Arctic and Sub-Arctic." The Department of Mines and Resources produced the bulletin in 1949. The booklet includes the Game Ordinance and Migratory Bird Regulations.