Photo: “Canada needs to remember that they have to include the Dene in everything that’s related to Arctic sovereignty, and to make sure that they’re included in those discussions,” says Assembly of First Nations National Chief Cindy Woodhouse Nepinak, second from right. She’s flanked by Yellowknives Chief Ernest Betsina and Dehcho Grand Chief Herb Norwegian at the Dene National Assembly in Fort Good Hope from Jan. 20-22. Photo courtesy of Chief Cindy Woodhouse Nepinak/Facebook / Kody Ferron, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter
By Kody Ferron
Local Journalism Initiative Reporter
NWT News/North
Assembly of First Nations National Chief Cindy Woodhouse Nepinak condemned U.S. President Donald Trump and emphasized Arctic sovereignty at the 2026 Dene National Assembly.
“It was a beautiful assembly. We talked about the Dene, Dene sovereignty, their work in the North, their work in keeping Canada together, and being on the land,” said Woodhouse Nepinak. “Canada needs to remember that they have to include the Dene in everything that’s related to Arctic sovereignty, and to make sure that they’re included in those discussions.”
In regards to other issues that arose during the assembly, held from Jan. 20-22 in Fort Good Hope,Woodhouse Nepinak said, “It was good to hear the language, good to see (Dene) hand games, and talk about many issues that are important to the Dene people, including economics, housing and health.”
They also discussed access to caribou, the importance of having First Nations’ artifacts returned and the actions of the U.S. president.
“We condemned Trump, his illegal tariffs, and we stand with Greenland and protecting the North, and reminding the world that the Dene people have been there since time immemorial, it’s their homeland,” said the national chief.
The high price of food in the North was also on the agenda, said Woodhouse Nepinak, who was born in Pinaymootang First Nation, Manitoba.
“I can’t believe the cost of groceries in the North, that was really tough to see,” she said. “That was right from the community [of Fort Good Hope] itself — they’re talking about high food prices.”
Infrastructure and economic development in the North were other items of importance that came up during the gathering.
“We talked about the creation of highways, access to major highways, transportation; many of the issues that southern people take for granted,” said Woodhouse Nepinak.
On a lighter note, the large traditional drum that sits outside of Fort Good Hope caught her eye.
“The biggest drum around the world is right in the Northwest Territories, so I wanted to see that,” she added. “Being able to eat fresh food, I mean, we had a fresh meal from the land, with fish and moose.”