Members Approve Constitution and Bylaw Changes

Our members approved changes to our Constitution and Bylaws at the Annual General Meeting

last month on October 7, 2026, in N’Dılǫ. The amendments bring our foundational governance

documents into closer alignment with our work, the communities we serve, and our

commitments to reconciliation, decolonization, equity, and accountable governance.

The updated Constitution more clearly recognizes culturally grounded, community-led

recreation and on the land opportunities. Its objectives emphasize equitable access, respect for

Indigenous knowledge and cultures, and the connections between recreation, well-being,

cultural continuity, and the land.

Members also approved amendments to the Bylaws concerning voting membership terms and

added place names listed in the regional appendix. Voting memberships are now tied to a

defined annual expiry date - the first Sunday in October - rather than the timing of the annual

conference. The regional appendix incorporates Indigenous place names alongside English

names.

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These changes follow a process of learning, review, and discussion. In 2025, the Board

participated in sessions with Chloe Dragon Smith on Ethical Space and Brian Wildcat on

Indigenous governance and the history of Maskwacis Education. The NWTRPA then engaged

IRP Consulting, founded by Yukon First Nations consultants Davida Wood and Tosh Southwick,

to review the Constitution and Bylaws and recommend changes. The Board considered those

recommendations before bringing amendments to the membership.

The approval marks another step in work that formally began in 2016, when members

endorsed the Truth and Reconciliation Commission’s Calls to Action and adopted the United

Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples as a framework for the organization’s

future activities. Since then, we have continued examining our programs, policies, relationships,

and governance through these commitments.

Putting these commitments into practice requires ongoing attention to how we make decisions,

support leaders, and work with communities. The approved amendments provide a stronger

foundation for that continuing work.

Thank you to the members who participated in the AGM and helped shape the organization’s

direction.

Learn more about the NWTRPA’s ongoing work on decolonization, reconciliation, and anti-

racism.