Voices of Indigenous Youth: Exploring Land Attachments in the Transition Beyond Mining Economies

Indigenous youth in mining regions of the Northwest Territories have often been left out of discussions about their futures, despite facing the brunt of impacts from an extractive political economy. The Territory’s mine-based economy has led to years of environmental destruction, as well as the systemic devaluation of Indigenous livelihoods, perpetuating settler colonial legacies of wealth and governance. As diamond mines begin to close over the next decade, we worked alongside the Tłı̨chǫ Government to document what the future holds for northern communities and explore the long-term implications of colonial mining regimes. My work was part of the SSHRC-funded project, Futures of Care (PI: Rebecca Hall). Taking a youth-oriented perspective, I analyzed and interpreted approximately 70 interviews and workshops. These were subsequently coded to thematically examine firsthand experiences from Indigenous youth community members. I documented and compiled the prominent data patterns into a community report for local partners, aiming to inform the integration of Northern Indigenous youth into policy and programming which supports their aspirations. Various areas of concern and interest emerged, central to understanding how youth’s experiences and visualizations of the future can be actualized. These include concerns and hopes for cultural vitality, environmental protection, funding and economic stability, educational access and development, territorial (NWT) security, youth wellbeing, youth career opportunities, and the looming omnipresence of extractive industries. Amongst others, connections to land have consistently and overwhelmingly emerged as a critical guiding factor for youth aspirations. Consequently, this project can offer insight for communities advocating for just and resilient transitions in the face of mine closure, meeting the culturally specific needs of Indigenous youth while ensuring protection of land resources, and access to relevant work opportunities.