Strengthening the Foundation for Indigenous Economic Growth with Techį́q Development Limited
From left to right: Tate Juniper, Board Director (videoconference), and David Ramsay, CEO (videoconference), Douglas Dillion, Board Director, Esu Oyunbaatar, Catalyste+ Program Manager, Raymond Taneton, President, Angus Graeme, Catalyste+ Advisor, and Carla Wallis, Board Director, in Deline.
Written by: Gavin John
Techį́q Development Limited plays a central role in advancing economic development on behalf of the Délı̨nę Got’ı̨nę Government (DGG). In 2025, Techį́q entered a period of transition as it began working at arm’s length from the government, with an expanding mandate and increasing responsibility to boost its business lines, pursue more procurement opportunities, and support community economic resilience priorities.
This transition created both opportunity and pressure: the corporation required stronger governance structures, clearer operational systems, and a more defined strategic direction to effectively carry out its role with the newly appointed leadership.
Catalyste+ began working with DGG through the project, “Enhancing Indigenous Participation in Major Remediation Projects in the Northwest Territories”. This initiative aims to develop workforce knowledge and skills and expand business capacity for Indigenous participation in remediation projects in the Northwest Territories over the three-year period from 2023 to 2026, supported by the Strategic Partnerships Initiative, the Canadian Northern Economic Development Agency, and the Government of Northwest Territories – Industry, Tourism, and Investment. Since the beginning, Catalyste+ has partnered with Délı̨nę to maximize opportunities associated with the Great Bear Lake Remediation project, with the goal of fostering self-sufficiency and economic resilience.
Early in the project, this partnership contributed to Techį́q securing a $2 million contract for the Sawmill Bay cleanup, one of the first remediation-related contracts in the region. The work directly benefited the community, with several contracts awarded to Délı̨nę-based construction businesses.
Building on that success, Catalyste+ continued working with Techį́q in 2024. Initial support focused on strengthening operations management capacity through organizational reviews and operations improvements with its subsidiaries, including the Grey Goose Lodge (GGL). Improvements to inventory tracking, financial oversight, and day-to-day operations helped position GGL for growth and enhanced service delivery.
Raymond Taneton, President, (right) and Angus Graeme, Catalyste+ Advisor (left)
In 2025, support expanded to focus on board governance, strategic planning, and organization-wide systems. A milestone was an in-person board governance and strategic planning engagement led by Catalyste+ Advisor Angus Graeme in Délı̨nę in November 2025. Over several days, Techį́q’s Board and leadership worked through governance fundamentals while defining a clearer long-term vision and priorities. The process brought together diverse perspectives for the priorities of the corporation and strengthened alignment across leadership. As noted by Angus, “the new board members were able to hear a lot…about how they got there and where the future lies.”
This work resulted in practical governance tools, including Terms of Reference, a Board Manual, and supporting policies, alongside a renewed strategic plan. By the end of the engagement, roles and responsibilities were more clearly defined, strengthening accountability and decision-making. As reflected in the process, “by the end of it, we had the Board and CEO understanding their roles and an updated strategic plan with new priorities.”
Operational capacity was further strengthened through the development of core manuals, including procurement, contract management, and project management tools. These introduced standardized processes and improved consistency, transparency, and readiness to engage in larger-scale opportunities.
At the subsidiary level, targeted support to GGL focused on improving service delivery and operational sustainability. The development of an operations and maintenance manual, along with updates to its website and booking systems, enhanced the guest experience and strengthened the Lodge’s revenue-generating potential.
Together, these efforts have positioned Techį́q to operate with greater clarity and confidence. Strengthened governance, improved systems, and early success in accessing remediation-related contracts demonstrate increased readiness to participate in the regional economy. More broadly, this progress reflects the project’s core objective: enabling Indigenous organizations to translate emerging opportunities into tangible community benefit.
While important progress has been made, this work represents part of a longer-term capacity-building support. Continued development of financial systems, property management practices, and health, safety, and environmental frameworks will further support sustainable growth.
Overall, the partnership between Techį́q Development Limited and Catalyste+ demonstrates how sustained, tailored technical assistance and advisory support can help Indigenous economic development organizations navigate transition, strengthen capacity, and build a foundation for long-term economic participation and resilience.
