Our History

Our health was and is informed by our relationship with the land, our community, and the knowledges held with our Elders and within us. What it means to “be healthy” sometimes means something different to Dene than to the western world. This is why it is important for Dene people to have not just a voice, but a role in leading the way in both how we define what wellness even is and which are the relevant and appropriate ways wellness is supported and fostered in our communities.

Throughout our history, wellness principles have been the foundation of our communities. We are reclaiming what wellbeing and healthy lifestyles means, in the Dene way.

In early 2020, the Dehcho First Nations launched a health and wellness position within DFN, with the intention of taking a first step in both reclaiming self-determination in health and wellness, but to also determine which direction(s) the Region needed to step in. One of the earliest actions was the creation of a working group to ensure that this work would be led by Dehcho communities for Dehcho.

Knowing which direction to begin this work meant gathering an understanding of what was needed, and the expertise to support guiding it. The division quickly decided that it needed to be informed by Dene knowledge and community members, and that more information was needed about the health and wellness system.

From the beginning, the goal of Division has been to be led by the community. Quickly, a Health & Wellness Working Group was formed. Each Dehcho community was asked to provide a Member to participate and inform this work. This group evolved to become the Health & Wellness Advisory Board and remains active in guiding the Division.

Additionally, the Division formed a partnerships with Wilfrid Laurier University in order to support ongoing research efforts, while still being directed by Dene voices.

In collaboration with Wilfred Laurier University, the Health & Wellness Division produced three research documents to identify:

• What the Dehcho Dene Have said about Health & Wellness
• Health & Wellness Directory
• A literature review of Best Healthcare Practices in Indigenous Rural Communities

Today Nezųh Aoht’é Gha Edek’eh (Journey To My Best Self Healing Program) has been a flagship program.

Since it’s incepetion, the Health & Wellness Division has been led by Dehcho communities, through the formation of the Health and Wellness working group, a regional Health & Wellness gathering and through Dehcho Leadership. The Working Group (Later changed to an Advisory Board) was created to provide ongoing advice to the Division, bringing forward a vision for a healthy Dene future. In 2021, the Division hosted a regional Health and Wellness Gathering in Fort Simpson, where all Dehcho communities were invited to share guidance on the direction of Dehcho health and wellness for the Division. Lastly, the Division also took guidance from Dehcho Dene Leadership through Dehcho First Nations, to ensure leadership voices were also at the heart of the Health & Wellness Division’s work. To this day, the Health & Wellness Division remains dedicated to working closely with leadership and communities for ongoing guidance in our work and goals.

Over the years, supported by community and feedback, the Division began to bring on new staff to support growing operations and programming. From one staff member in 2021, as of 2026, there is now a team of 8 full-time staff and multiple contractors. As the team grew, so did the capacity to seek new funding opportunities, which in turn provided resources for new programs and workshops ranging from healing and recovery work to patient support in navigating the NWT healthcare systems, birthwork, and more.

The Health & Wellness Division Advisory Board, Dehcho Leadership and Dehcho Communities, remain a foundation of the Division’s work, as their work is rooted in their expertise and guidance.