For approximately forty years, the Inuvialuit co-management system has demonstrated that meaningful Indigenous participation, traditional knowledge, trust, and adaptive management are not emerging con
For forty years, the Inuvialuit co-management system has practised principles now considered essential to modern impact assessment. Established through the 1984 Inuvialuit Final Agreement, this Indigenous-led framework demonstrates the importance of early engagement, Indigenous knowledge, trust, transparency, and adaptive management. Tracing its evolution through institutional development, procedural improvements, and changing environmental realities, this paper highlights lessons in resilience and self-determination, encouraging the international community to learn from longstanding Indigenous approaches to environmental decision-making.
Catherine Cockney is an Inuvialuit cultural specialist dedicated to preserving traditions, Indigenous knowledge, and Elders’ wisdom for future generations.