Hybrid Government Institutions: Reconciliation or Institutional Colonialism? The Case of the Tlicho Peoples, Northwest Territories

Abstract

Contributing to debates surrounding reconciliation, this study argues that meaningful reconciliation requires more than simple recognition of rights; it requires integration of Indigenous practices and perspectives into formal institutions, and specifically formal government institutions. A combined structural institutional and discourse analysis of formal government institutions and documents of the Tlicho Government, the Mackenzie Valley Land and Water Management Board and the Government of the Northwest Territories was conducted focussing on land and water management. It found that the Tlicho Government has created unique hybrid government institutions, grounded on Tlicho history, culture and practices, and augmented by modern knowledge and practices. However, integration of Indigenous practices and perspectives remains limited in formal government institutions and documents, and therefore formal practices, at the watershed and Territorial levels. This study questions whether hybrid formal government institutions can become institutions of reconciliation or will these continue to promote institutional colonialism under resilient settler colonialism.