Navigating Diamond Mine Closures: Youth Experiences and Land-Based Programs Fostering Community Resilience in the Northwest Territories

Abstract

This thesis explores the experiences and aspirations of Tłı̨chǫ youth in the context of intersecting social, economic, and environmental crises in the Northwest Territories (NWT), shaped by resource extraction and broader impacts of colonialism and capitalism. With the significant upcoming diamond mine closures in the NWT, this research considers the risks and volatility of the resource extraction industry and the uncertain future dynamics of Tłı̨chǫ communities. Guided by Tłı̨chǫ youth voices, the analysis highlights the environmental monitoring program Ekwǫ Nàxoède K’è (ENK), which serves as an example of Tłı̨chǫ community resilience and cultural revitalization. In partnership with the Tłı̨chǫ Government and supported by the Futures of Care project, this research utilizes qualitative methods including interviews, focus groups, and document analysis to explore youth perspectives on the impacts of mining and land-based programs. The research design and analysis draw from Indigenous, feminist, and youth-centred frameworks, as well as participatory, relational, and community-guided methods. Youth participants described the complex ways in which the diamond mines affect them and their communities, with concerns raised about negative impacts on biodiversity, cultural continuity, and community wellbeing. Discussing the economic shifts from mine closures, Tłı̨chǫ youth expressed anxiety about the future of their communities and questioned the long-term trade-offs that mine-affected regions are faced with. Additionally, Tłı̨chǫ youth reflected on their participation in the ENK program, which they described as a transformative experience with the potential to strengthen wider cultural and community wellbeing. The ENK program carries out caribou monitoring near the diamond mines and is expanding significantly to widen the scope of monitoring, including observing mine closure and remediation efforts. The program is also launching new initiatives to involve more Tłı̨chǫ youth to further support youth wellbeing, skill building, and intergenerational knowledge transfer. Ultimately, this research brings attention to the far-reaching risks of resource extraction and emphasizes an example of Indigenous community resilience and resistance in the face of compounding challenges.