John B. Zoe quiet on NWT Order win
Honour based on career of reviving tradition and settling land claims
John McFadden
Northern News Services
Monday, November 30, 2015
BEHCHOKO/RAE-EDZO
Among the first recipients of the Order of the NWT was Behchoko resident John B. Zoe.
He was nominated for his work in self-government development, according to a bio released by the legislative assembly when the order was announced.
Zoe was the chief negotiator for the Dogrib in 1992 to settle a land claim and self-government agreement through negotiations with the governments of Canada and the NWT.
With help from tribal members and elders, the negotiations were completed, approved and took effect on August 4, 2005. Zoe is now the executive officer for the Tlicho Government, and the major part of his work is in managing the development of the governance and corporate structures.
Zoe also has an honourary doctor of laws degree from the University of Alberta in recognition of his work work preserving the Tlicho culture.
He has written a number of articles on his people's ethno archaelogy and place names, Dogrib sacred sites and the history of settlement types and traditional architecture.
He is also a member of the faculty at the Dechinta Centre for Research and Learning.
Zoe has also been involved with the revival of the Trails of our Ancestors annual canoe trip, where elders and youth travel traditional canoe routes through Tlicho territory togther.
The canoe trips are intended to give elders a chance to share traditional knowledge and tell stories along the route.
Attempts to contact Zoe for this story were unsuccessful as of press time.
