The Rights of Aboriginal People

During his term, he established the NWT Dene Cultural Institute and on the national front, he founded Indigenous Survival International (ISI) with the assistance of the Assembly of First Nations and other Aboriginal organizations.

ISI was mandated to protect and promote the rights of Aboriginal people to harvest the wildlife of the land and to promote these objectives internationally and across Canada.

ISI was also set up to counter the international animal rights movement and the devastation which the anti-fur lobby was having on the NWT Aboriginal residents and the traditional trapping economy.

With a moratorium in place, Mr. Kakfwi turned his attention to recognition of Aboriginal land and self government rights. As president of the Dene Nation from 1983-1987, he guided discussions on a framework for Dene – Métis comprehensive claims negotiations.