Kristi Benson MA

Kristi Benson has been affiliated with the Gwich’in Tribal Council Department of Culture and Heritage (and its predecessor, the Gwich’in Social and Cultural Institute) since 2004. She has more than 20 years of experience in conducting traditional land use, traditional knowledge, GIS, anthropological, oral history, archaeological, and other heritage projects. Her focus has been working with all aspects of heritage and culture with Gwich’in communities, especially through data management and mapping. She has also taught anthropology courses at the Aurora College and Malaspina University-College (now Vancouver Island University).

Through her work with the Department, she is a Governor General History Award Laureate.

Description of research program in the NWT/north:

Testing the Waters: Cultural and Heritage Oversight through a Gwich’in Research Forum

The Department of Culture and Heritage of the Gwich’in Tribal Council is the culture and heritage arm of the Tribal Council and handles various tasks under Chapter 25 (and others) of the Gwich’in Comprehensive Land Claim Agreement. The Department carries out research, partners and assists on projects from policy creation to international collaborations, reviews a broad variety of license and permit applications, and manages a vast collection of data. To best meet the needs and research orientation of the Gwich’in communities, the Department is considering the creation of a Gwich’in-specific and Gwich’in-appropriate research oversight body, similar to the Nę K’ǝ Dene Ts’ı̨lı̨ Forum in the Sahtu Region. The DCH proposes that the Gwich’in Forum will have knowledgeable Elders, youth, academics, land-users, and those with familiarity with policy and governance. The Forum would be a place to learn and share as much as it would be a body for oversight and decision-making assistance to the Department. This project will assess how such a Forum would best function in the GSA with GSA-specific governance and co-management structures, and how the Gwich’in communities would wish to participate.

Significant contributions:

1. Aporta, C, Kritsch, I, Andre, A, Benson, K, Snowshoe, S, Firth, W, Carry, D. 2014. The Gwich'in Atlas: Place Names, Maps, and Narratives. In: Taylor, DRF, Lauriault, TP (Eds.), Developments in the Theory and Practice of Cybercartography. Elsevier Science, 229-244.

(See the online cybercartographic atlas here: https://atlas.gwichin.ca/index.html)

2. Benson, KA. 2017. Gwich’in Knowledge of Insects. Report submitted to the Gwich’in Renewable Resources Board and Gwich’in Tribal Council Department of Cultural Heritage. Available from the Gwich’in Tribal Council Department of Culture and Heritage, Fort McPherson, NT.

3. Benson, KA. Gwich’in Knowledge of Divii (Dall’s Sheep). In prep. Available from the Gwich’in Tribal Council Department of Culture and Heritage, Fort McPherson, NT.

4. Benson, KA. 2018. Gwich’in Knowledge of Porcupine Caribou: State of current knowledge and gaps assessment. Report submitted to the Gwich’in Tribal Council and the United States Department of the Interior Bureau of Land Management. Available from the Gwich’in Tribal Council Department of Culture and Heritage, Fort McPherson, NT.

5. Benson, KA. 2012. Teetł’it Gwich’in, Gwichya Gwich’in, and Ehdiitat Gwich’in Journeys to Old Crow: Oral History About Trails, Meeting Places, and Diverse Travels. Report submitted to the Vuntut Gwich’in Government Heritage Branch. Available from the Gwich’in Tribal Council Department of Culture and Heritage, Fort McPherson, NT.

6. Benson, KA. 2005. Gwich’in Traditional Knowledge Study of the Mackenzie Gas Project Area and accompanying map booklet. Prepared for Gwich’in Tribal Council and Imperial Oil Resources Ventures Limited. Available from the Gwich’in Tribal Council Department of Culture and Heritage, Fort McPherson, NT.