ATHABASCA CHIPEWYAN FIRST NATION
Building a Nation-Led Framework to Safeguard Traditional Knowledge (Traditional Knowledge Records & Archiving Project) Project Management Essentials Training, 2024
WHO THEY ARE?
ACFN faced an existential risk: traditional knowledge was dispersed and
inconsistently managed, with missing or corrupted files, no unified filing
system or policies, and duplication that consumed senior staff time as
external consultations sought information.
The Nation needed a community-defined roadmap under ACFN control
—one that clarified what to protect, how to protect it, and who was
responsible at each step. That required clear scope and policy
foundations, culturally safe access and security rules, enabling systems
and staff training, dedicated capacity to steward the work, and defined
decision points with a credible timeline from planning to adoption.
The vision was a living system of knowledge stewardship under ACFN
control: a central, culturally safe home for records and teachings;
information safeguarded to reduce stress, avoid duplication, reduce
costs; and evidence data (knowledge) easily accessible for everyday
stewardship and consultation—to protect land, waters, wildlife, and
people—while upholding cultural integrity and legal responsibilities.
WHAT THEY NEEDED
ACFN faced an existential risk: traditional knowledge was dispersed and
inconsistently managed, with missing or corrupted files, no unified filing
system or policies, and duplication that consumed senior staff time as
external consultations sought information.
The Nation needed a community-defined roadmap under ACFN control
—one that clarified what to protect, how to protect it, and who was
responsible at each step. That required clear scope and policy
foundations, culturally safe access and security rules, enabling systems
and staff training, dedicated capacity to steward the work, and defined
decision points with a credible timeline from planning to adoption.
The vision was a living system of knowledge stewardship under ACFN
control: a central, culturally safe home for records and teachings;
information safeguarded to reduce stress, avoid duplication, reduce
costs; and evidence data (knowledge) easily accessible for everyday
stewardship and consultation—to protect land, waters, wildlife, and
people—while upholding cultural integrity and legal responsibilities.
WHAT WE DID
We guided ACFN’s team to formalize the Traditional Knowledge Records & Archiving initiative into a comprehensive project plan, developing a Project Proposal that stated mandate and purpose, identified the specific problems to be solved (dispersed records, gaps in policy and access to information), and set explicit scope boundaries.
Kept decisions and roles explicit by adding a stakeholder analysis clarifying sponsors, decision rights, team engagement, and the communications path to Chief & Council, and by referencing simple decision points and approvals within the project.
Turned intent into a working plan by creating a summary Deliverables Breakdown Structure with a matching detailed breakdown, organizing the effort across grants and policy foundations, an authoritative TK asset list with digitization, enabling systems and training, partner and communications pathways, and project/change management, establishing one coherent delivery backbone to guide work from initiation through adoption.
Defined enabling capacity and systems, including a database framework and a staff data-manager role profile, to support implementation on ACFN terms.
RESULTS WE GOT
Traditional Knowledge Records & Archiving initiative moved from a priority idea to a governed, decision-ready project, scope and boundaries clarified, the path from planning to implementation sequenced, and the work anchored in ACFN governance and cultural protocols.
Governance and coordination tightened. Sponsor roles and decision paths to Chief & Council were defined; team responsibilities and engagement were clarified; and dedicated capacity for data stewardship was specified, giving the Nation a clear line of accountability to carry the work forward.
ACFN was positioned to coordinate investment, implement policy and access controls, and treat information as a usable asset for stewardship and consultation, reducing duplication and staff time while preparing evidence to protect land, waters, wildlife, and people.
IN NUMBERS
1 TK Records/Archiving Project Established
A Nation-governed foundation with scope set, planning & implementation deliverables were sequenced, and sponsor to-Council decision gates defined.
10 Core Deliverables Sequenced Into One Pathway
Coordinating funding/policy development, asset inventory, digitization and systems, training & communications requirement defined
2-Year Delivery Timeline Set
A realistic pace to digitize documents, institute policy and access controls, and transfer to program.
