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.

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.

The records document an oral traditions project carried out by Jonas Adam on behalf of the Salt River First Nation in 1996, funded via the Oral Traditions funding program. The textual records consist of two copies of a report entitled Memories To Last. It includes photocopies of pictures, and what appear to be transcripts of the interviews with six Salt River First Nation elders: Mary Rose Benwell, Napoleon (Abraham) Nasgadhe, Philip Cheezie, Mary Jane Bruno (Taylor), Wilfred Beaulieu, and Oliver Beaulieu. ©SRFN, request permission/copies directly.

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.

The textual records consist of transcripts, both handwritten and typewritten, of the narrative that inspired the recordings. The sound recordings consists of three recordings of a narrative told by George Blondin on the subject of wolverine legends. The recordings, produced by Spiritwalker Productions of Yellowknife, were made for the Cogent/Benger Productions Inc. film Wolverine - Devil of the North.

This material was generated by field work conducted by Beryl Gillespie, an anthropologist who visited the communities of Detah, Rae, Yellowknife, Fort Norman (Tulita) and Fort Franklin (Deline) between 1968 and 1972. The photographs, slides and negatives depict the people she interviewed and the communities that she visited. The textual material consists of field notes containing information and stories collected from the following families: Clement, Lennie, Andrew, Norwegian, Wright, Naedzo, Gladue, Karkagie, Gully, Sangris, Thomas, Abel, Potfighter, Crapeau, Drygeese, Fishbone, Blondin, Bruno, Martin, Mackenzie, Liske, Tobie, Betsina, Charlo, Baillargeon, Hetchile, Vital, Pochat, Yakeleya, Bernard, Mendo, Yukon and Etchinele. The two audio cassettes appear to be taped stories told by Gabriel Etchinele and Fred Andrew. Both stories are in Slavey. The first story was told by Gabriel Etchinele on October 18, 1972 and is the story about Dendejule. The English translation by Stella Mendo is available in the field notes. The second audio cassette contains a story told by Fred Andrew on October 25, 1972 about the Ehbaotine and Mountain Indian Conflict. The English translation by Laura Yakelaya is available in the field notes.

Records consist of nine stories from Pangnirtung written in syllabics; and one file containing results of a questionnaire on the value of the magazine 'Inuttituut.' The sound recordings contain an interview with Markoosie and traditional Inuit songs and games.

Records consist of photocopied documents from the Oblate Archives at St. Albert, Alberta. The material relates to Inuit stories from Coppermine. The stories were collected by Father Maurice Metayer. The text is in Inuktitut (roman orthography) and French.

This accession consists of 0.9 cm of textual records and 29 audio cassettes created by Alestine Andre during her Arctic Red River (Tsiigehtchic) Oral History Project in Tsiigehtchic in 1989-1990. The goal of the project was to collect information on the traditional lifestyle and cultural beliefs of the Gwichya Gwich'in in Tsiigehtchic. The textual records document the project's administration, and include a final report and a transcript. The audio cassettes include interviews conducted on various dates with five Elders who agreed to participate in the project: Hyacinthe Andre, Andre Jerome, Joan Nazon, Annie Norbert, and Nap Norbert.

Records consist of translations of interviews with Helen Kalvak, an Inuit artist from Holman. Born in 1901, Helen Kalvak grew up with her parents living off the land in the Holman region. Her drawings are depictions of her memories. Many are inspired by shamanism and ancient legends. It is believed that the interviews were carried out by Father Tardy, an Oblate missionary who lived in Holman for many years and who uncovered Helen Kalvak's talent. The interviews may have been conducted in the 1960s.

Records include sound recordings of interviews conducted as part of the Great Bear Lake Oral History Project in 1992. Topics discussed include settlement patterns around Great Bear Lake before Deline (Fort Franklin) was established, traditional place names in the Great Bear Lake area, the settlement of Deline (Fort Franklin), Slavey social life and customs, fishing, hunting and Slavey games. People interviewed included Jean Baptiste, Julie Baptiste, Madeline Baton, Paul Baton, Peter Baton, Madeline Bayha, Christine Cleary, Melanie Elemie, Margaret Kenny, Marie Therese (Sr.) Kenny, Bella Modeste, Camilla Takazo, Louie Taniton, Rosa Taniton, Francis Tatti, Cecile Tetso, Adeline Vital, Dora Vital and Johnny Vital. The interviews are in North Slavey; most recordings include introductions and summaries in English.

Records were generated by a project undertaken by the Sahtu Heritage Places and Sites Joint Working Group and include one report entitled "Places We Take Care Of" that identified and made recommendations about the protection, preservation and promotion of heritage places and sites important to the history and culture of the Sahtu Dene and Metis. Records also consist of copies of oral history transcripts from Délı̨nę, Colville Lake and Fort Good Hope. Interviews were carried out as part of the project to identify additional culturally significant and historic sites.

Records consist of a copy of a letter sent to June Helm in 1956 by Angus Sherwood. The letter tells of Mr. Sherwood and Joe Hope's 1925 encounter with a Dene family near Fort Simpson and the Dene legend of Gath-leaa told to them.

This fonds consists of stories and writings from George Blondin, a Sahtu Dene elder. The stories and writings relate to traditional medicine, medicine power, Yamoga, Yamoria, the Giant Wolverine, and wolverine medicine power.

The photographs were taken, collected or purchased by the photographer for the GNWT. The photographs depict the following subjects: images of people, communities in the Northwest Territories, scenery, wildlife, traditional land use, hospitals, Royal Canadian Mounted Police buildings, schools, infrastructure of communities, water, air and land transportation, sports and recreation, hunting, fishing, traditional clothing, political leaders, government buildings, camps, mines, DEW line sites, events such as Arctic Winter Games, Expo '86, Canada Day, churches, airports, housing, dogsledding, fauna, arts and crafts and performing arts. Many of the photographs were taken by Tessa MacIntosh, Bob Wilson, Fran Hurcomb, Bruce Sekulich and D. Milligan, Government Photographers in the 1980s and early-1990s.

The audio recordings consist of an interview with D'arcy Arden recorded February 26, 2001 (2 cassettes) and one DAT tape recorded in April 1996 of George Blondin telling stories. The Darcy Arden interview deals with the early days of ice roads and his family history. The other recording is of George Blondin telling stories: Moose hunting, Netting Fish, Fishing Chat, Otter Medicine Legend, Setting Rabbit Snares, Trapping, Trapping chat, Caribou legend. The Blondin recording appears to recorded both in English and Slavey. The textual records appears to be an English translation of the Blondin stories.

This fonds consists of 2 DAT audiocassettes, 2 audio reels and one centimeter of textual material. The two DAT audiocassettes and 2 audio reels contain recordings done by Father Henri Posset. The first recording was made in September 1957. It consists of drumming and chanting taped in Jean Marie River and Fort Franklin, fiddle music from Fort Franklin and various Slavey legends related by Johnny Betseda of Fort Simpson and Jean Marie Punch of Fort Providence. The second recordings with John Tsetso were made on April 1, 1964 in St. Margaret's Hospital at Fort Simpson. In this recording, Tsetso narrates, in Slavey, the first three chapters of his book, "Trapping is my Life", which was published in February 1964. He also relates two other stories about summer and winter. The fonds also contains two letters written by Father Posset which provide some biographical information on Johnny Betseda, John Tsetso and Jean Marie Punch. There is also a typed transcript of an interview between Father Posset and William Nerysoo, Sr., relating to Gwich'in personal names, which was conducted on November 23, 1987.

The recordings contain interviews with Paul Wright and Fred Andrew, both elders of Fort Norman. The recordings are in Slavey and may deal with traditional stories. The stories were recorded over an eight day period at Drum Lake.

Accession consists of books published by the Department of Education called "Tendi's Canoe" and "Tendi Goes Beaver Snaring." There is also a book of Inuit Legends featuring drawings by Inuk artist Germaine Arnaktauyok. Additionally, there are curricula materials such as "Flora and Fauna of the North" which includes illustrated pictures of animals found in the north accompanied by excerpt /short stories. "A Start in Something New: Welcome to Kindergarten" is curriculum for kindergarten. The accession also includes a booklet of the Dene calendar written in both English and Slavey with illustrations by Dene artist, Don Antoine. There is also a book, "Olympiada" by Saul Landa which features the 1971 Olympiada event among students in Fort Smith, Northwest Territories. Additionally, there is a summary of the Social and Housing Education Program in the Mackenzie District in 1969. The accession also consists of territorial government and election procedures of 1974 in the Government and Elections - An Educational Programme.

This fonds consists of two maps, 465 photographs, 43 DAT audiocassettes and 17 audio reels. The majority of the material consists of a collection of oral histories and photographs accumulated by the Fort Good Hope Community Council via their Dene Language and Historical Research Project. The oral histories were created because of the Dene Language and Historical Research Program. The photographs, collected from individual photographers, represent an artificial collection of historical photographs. Photographers include: Mr. Cassien Edgi, Brother Mahe and Alphonsine McNeely. The maps consist of town plans dealing with land use and development in the municipality of Fort Good Hope. One plan contains the text of the Fort Good Hope Community Plan. The second plan indicates zoning and focuses on the Jackfish Creek Redevelopment.