North Slave Métis Alliance

What North Slave Métis Alliance does

The North Slave Métis Alliance (NSMA) is a Yellowknife-based Indigenous non-profit society registered in the Northwest Territories since 1996, representing the Métis people whose ancestors occupied the North Slave region of Great Slave Lake prior to Treaty 11 in 1921. Its mandate is the assertion, protection, and implementation of Aboriginal rights affirmed under Section 35 of the Canadian Constitution Act, alongside environmental stewardship and the promotion of Métis education, economic, social, and cultural development. NSMA operates through three functional departments — Environment, Lands & Culture (created in 2024), and Business — and delivers services to its North Slave Métis membership, with member-facing programs including the Community Garden, gear and equipment lending, honoraria for fieldwork, CHAP (Community Harvest Assistance Program) funding, scholarships, and cultural workshops.

Name

North Slave Métis Alliance

Legal name

North Slave Métis Alliance

Website

https://nsma.net

Company type

Private

Founded year

1996

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

North Slave Métis Alliance is a Yellowknife-based Indigenous non-profit government representing the Métis of the North Slave region of Great Slave Lake, delivering guardianship, environmental monitoring, and member services funded by federal and territorial grants and its Métcor Environmental subsidiary.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Indigenous Environmental & Rights Services

NAICS

American Indian and Alaska Native Tribal Governments (92115), American Indian and Alaska Native Tribal Governments (921150), Support Activities for Forestry (1153), Human Rights Organizations (813311), Professional Organizations (81392)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300), Services-Educational Services (8200), Services-Membership Organizations (8600)

akta.pro primary industry

Community Forestry & Indigenous Land Stewardship Services (IMAMAJAM)

akta.pro secondary industry

Stakeholder Engagement, Indigenous/Tribal Consultation & Social Impact (SIA) (EUAHAAAH)

Keywords

• Indigenous environmental services
• Environmental monitoring consulting
• Indigenous-led stewardship
• Métis rights advocacy
• Wildlife guardianship programs

Headquarters

HQ city

Yellowknife

HQ country

Canada

HQ region

North America

Offices4 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Others

Revenue model

1. Contribution Agreements & Capacity Funding: Environment Department operates as a financially self-sufficient entity within NSMA by generating diversified revenue sources through contribution agreements for capacity funding from federal and territorial governments (e.g., CIRNAC-ICBCM, GNWT-CIMP).
2. Environmental Consulting Services (Métcor Environmental Inc.): 100% owned subsidiary provides environmental monitoring and sampling, bear/predator monitoring, local subcontracting, logistical and field support, and consulting services to mining/exploration, contaminated sites, renewable resources, government, and research sectors. Suite of additional environmental and engineering consulting services through technical partners Triton and GHD.
3. Government Grants and Project Funding: Receives targeted government funding such as $186,000 over three years from the Government of Canada for the Guardianship program, and other project-specific grants from various federal/territorial agencies.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

North Slave Métis Alliance (NSMA) is an Indigenous non-profit society that represents the Métis of the North Slave region of Great Slave Lake in the Northwest Territories. Its core offerings include environmental monitoring and stewardship (via the NSMA Guardianship Program with sub-programs including eDNA biodiversity monitoring, winter road caribou monitoring, and Old Fort Rae wildlife monitoring), Aboriginal rights advocacy and government-to-government consultation with mining companies and federal/territorial governments, cultural preservation services, community programming (community garden, member services, scholarships), and commercial environmental consulting delivered through its 100%-owned subsidiary Métcor Environmental Inc.

Product overview

North Slave Métis Alliance (NSMA) is an Indigenous government, not a software vendor; its "product" portfolio is a set of programs and services delivered to Métis members and partners in the Northwest Territories. The core offering is the NSMA Guardianship Program, which integrates three operational sub-programs — the North Slave Biodiversity Monitoring Program (eDNA), the NSMA Winter Road Monitoring Program on the Tibbitt to Contwoyto ice road, and Old Fort Rae Wildlife Monitoring within the candidate Dınàgà Wek'èhodì protected area. These sit alongside the Environment Department (regulatory and consultation work on caribou, bison, and mines such as Giant Mine, Diavik, Gahcho Kué, and Snap Lake), the Department of Lands & Culture (genealogy, traditional knowledge archival, GIS mapping services, community engagement, and communications), the commercial Métcor Environmental Inc. subsidiary (environmental consulting with partners Triton and GHD), the NSMA Community Garden, the NSMA Health & Wellness Program, and Member Services (including the On the Land Incentive Program powered by Esri ArcGIS Survey123). Together these form a coordinated environmental stewardship and Indigenous governance platform for the North Slave Métis.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• NSMA Guardianship Program: Indigenous-led monitoring and stewardship program connecting members to the land and gathering information about ecosystem health in the traditional territory, with initiatives including the Winter Road Monitoring Program and the North Slave Biodiversity Monitoring Program (eDNA).
• Métcor Environmental Inc.

Products and services

• NSMA Guardianship Program A flagship program that deploys NSMA Guardians to monitor, manage, and steward lands, waters, and ice in the traditional territory. Spans multiple sub-programs including eDNA-based species monitoring, winter road caribou patrols, and Old Fort Rae wildlife monitoring.
• North Slave Biodiversity Monitoring Program (eDNA) Biological monitoring program that braids Traditional Knowledge with Western Science, using environmental DNA (eDNA) analysis, game cameras, and autonomous recording units (ARUs) to detect species at risk across approximately 13 sampling locations in the North Slave Region.
• NSMA Winter Road Monitoring Program Annual program in which NSMA Guardians camp on the Tibbitt to Contwoyto ice road to monitor barren-ground caribou in their winter range, investigating cumulative impacts of vehicles, predators, and noise disturbance on caribou.
• Old Fort Rae Wildlife Monitoring (Dınàgà Wek'èhodì) Year-round wildlife monitoring at Old Fort Rae, a community camp within the candidate Dınàgà Wek'èhodì protected area, using 12 wildlife cameras, 6 ARUs, 4 bat ARUs, and eDNA sampling to detect species including bears, wolves, wolverine, moose, and caribou.
• Department of Lands & Culture Department created in 2024 providing services directly to community members across genealogy, history research, traditional knowledge archival, mapping/GIS, community engagement, and communications. Backed by a 10-member Community Advisory Committee.
• Métcor Environmental Inc. A 100%-owned subsidiary of Métcor Inc. (the NSMA development corporation), providing environmental consulting services including environmental monitoring and sampling, bear/predator monitoring, local subcontracting, logistical and field support, and a local fleet of trucks, boats, canoes, snowmobiles, and powered equipment. Partners with Triton and GHD for additional environmental and engineering consulting services.
• NSMA Member Services Membership benefits including gear/equipment lending, paid honoraria opportunities, training support, CHAP (community harvest assistance program), wild meat distribution, scholarships/educational support, and the On the Land Incentive Program.

Quantifiable outcome

• 44 species of mammals, birds and amphibians detected across 13 eDNA sampling locations; 4 species at risk confirmed
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers6 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration2 records

Feature4 records

Partnerships

21 partnerships are on record, tiered flagship, moderate, core and minor.

• Government of the Northwest Territories (GNWT)flagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerSigned Cooperation Agreement marking significant step toward reconciliation. First meeting held under the agreement; signifies government-to-government collaboration. NSMA also participates in Bathurst Caribou Advisory Committee, Mackenzie Bison Working Group, Range Planning, Habitat Conservation Workshop, and Indigenous Climate Leadership co-development process with the Government of Canada.
• City of YellowknifemoderateStrategic or Co-development PartnerSigned MOU on copper recycling - advancing Indigenous-led environmental stewardship, circular economy solutions, and sustainable northern supply chains.
• NWT Our Land for the Future Agreement Coalition (22 Indigenous Governments)flagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerPresident Marc Whitford and VP Alan Harman Jr. traveled to Behchokǫ̀ to sign the agreement securing $375 million for Indigenous-led stewardship of lands, waters, and wildlife. Collaborative agreement between 22 Indigenous Governments, the Government of Canada, the Government of the NWT, and private donors.
• Ni Hadi Xa (Gahcho Kué Mine Environmental Monitoring Agreement)flagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerBrings together NSMA, Northwest Territory Métis Nation, Deninu Kue First Nation, Lutsel K'e Dene First Nation, Tłı̨chǫ Government, Yellowknives Dene First Nation, and De Beers Canada. Combines on-site environmental monitoring, desktop technical reviews, and traditional knowledge monitoring. NSMA is represented on the Governance Committee.
• De Beers Canada (Gahcho Kué Mine)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-signatory of Ni Hadi Xa environmental monitoring agreement. NSMA participates in on-site environmental monitoring, desktop technical reviews, and traditional knowledge monitoring at the Gahcho Kué Mine.
• Diavik Diamond Mine (Rio Tinto)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNSMA actively participates in the consultation process, providing recommendations on regulatory aspects. Recent contributions include participating in Diavik closure and reclamation workshops review and Environmental Agreement Signatory meetings for a Traditional Knowledge watching and monitoring program for mine closure.
• Tłı̨chǫ GovernmentcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCooperation on Dinàgà Wek'èhodì Candidate Protected Area; North Slave Métis and Tłı̨chǫ guardians attend joint training on Tibbitt to Contwoyto Winter Road monitoring; signatory of Ni Hadi Xa (Gahcho Kué Mine).
• Yellowknives Dene First NationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCooperation on Dinàgà Wek'èhodì Candidate Protected Area. Co-signatory of Ni Hadi Xa (Gahcho Kué Mine) environmental monitoring agreement.
• Northwest Territory Métis NationmoderateStrategic or Co-development PartnerCooperation on Dinàgà Wek'èhodì Candidate Protected Area. Co-signatory of Ni Hadi Xa (Gahcho Kué Mine) environmental monitoring agreement.
• Caribou Guardians Coalition (CGC)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNSMA member since CGC's inception in 2020. Organization fosters collaboration between existing Indigenous guardianship programs and supports the establishment of new ones to collect data on the critically declining Bathurst herd of barren-ground caribou. NSMA staff and elders attended the on-the-land gathering in Wekweètì.
• Indigenous Mapping CollectivemoderateTechnology or IntegrationNSMA staff attended the 10th annual Indigenous Mapping Workshop (IMW) in Regina, SK. Training sessions provided by Esri Canada, Google, Canadian Space Agency, NASA, SIKU, and The Firelight Group on GIS tools, with a focus on best practices for mapping Indigenous Knowledge and Traditional Land Use.
• GHD (Engineering Consultant)coreTechnology or IntegrationTechnical partner of Métcor Environmental Inc. providing suite of additional environmental and engineering consulting services.
• Triton Environmental ConsultantscoreTechnology or IntegrationTechnical partner of Métcor Environmental Inc. providing suite of additional environmental and engineering consulting services.
• Indigenous Climate Leadership (ICL) / Government of CanadamoderateStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-development process engaging Indigenous people in climate policy. NSMA is participating and will hold workshops and meetings with membership to identify priorities, needs and concerns related to environmental changes.
• Arctic ResponseminorOthersProvided ice rescue training to NSMA team including ice safety and essential techniques for field work on the land.
• Wilfrid Laurier University ResearchersmoderateOthersProvided training to North Slave Métis and Tłı̨chǫ guardians in preparation for the Tibbitt to Contwoyto Winter Road season on snow, ice, and water measurement techniques.
• Bebaski (Chloe Dragon Smith and Robert)minorOthersIndigenous fur harvesters facilitating Traditional Knowledge and hide tanning workshops for NSMA members and families, including 2-day intensive workshop and 8-10 follow-up drop-in sessions to complete the hide tanning process.
• Gwich'in Renewable Resources Board / Sahtú Renewable Resources Board / Wek'èezhı̀ı Renewable Resources Board / Tłı̨chǫ Government (Conference of Management Authorities)moderateStrategic or Co-development PartnerImplementing the Management Plan for Bats in the NWT, addressing White-Nose Syndrome (WNS) response and monitoring under the Species at Risk (NWT) Act.
• Yellowknife Women's SocietyminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration to build community gardens at the Yellowknife Women's Centre and Spruce Bough.
• SUNY-ESF (State University of New York College of Environmental Science and Forestry)moderateOthersPartnership to develop NSMA's data analysis procedures for wildlife observations, photos, and audio data for the winter road caribou monitoring program.
• Bushkids (Yellowknife)minorOthersProvided the site for hide tanning workshops and operates an on-the-Land learning initiative in Yellowknife for ages 5-11 with NSMA covering registration for youth members.

Scale indicators9 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights7 records

Direct peers

• Dehcho First Nations: Political organization representing Dene and Métis of the Dehcho region of the NWT; comparable in mandate (Aboriginal rights, environmental stewardship, member services) and operates a parallel guardian/land-use planning structure.
• Tłı̨chǫ Government: An Indigenous government in the NWT with a constitutionally protected land-claim agreement that co-signs Ni Hadi Xa (Gahcho Kué) and joint Guardian training with NSMA, operating comparable consultation, environmental monitoring and member service programs.
• Triton Environmental Consultants: Northern-Canadian environmental consulting firm that is a technical partner to NSMA's Métcor Environmental Inc., offering the same environmental monitoring, sampling, contaminated-sites and engineering services that Métcor delivers to mining and government clients.
• Yellowknives Dene First Nation: Indigenous government in Yellowknife and Dettah that shares NSMA's traditional territory, co-signs Ni Hadi Xa and Dınàgà Wek'èhodì, and runs its own Guardian/environment programs — a structurally comparable Indigenous government peer in the same urban market.
• Northwest Territory Métis Nation: Another Indigenous Métis representative body in the NWT that co-signs environmental and protected-area agreements with NSMA (e.g., Ni Hadi Xa, Dınàgà Wek'èhodì), operating as a parallel Indigenous-rights organization with similar member services and government-to-government mandate.
• Gwich'in Tribal Council: Gwich'in political and rights body in the NWT that participates in co-management boards and climate monitoring alongside NSMA, serving as a comparable Indigenous-government peer in environmental and species-at-risk work.

Emerging players

• Caribou Guardians Coalition: Coalition of Indigenous Guardian programs NSMA co-founded in 2020; directly comparable as a network of Indigenous-led caribou and barren-ground monitoring programs and a coordinating body for the same funding sources NSMA accesses.

Broad incumbents

• Inuit Tapiriit Kanatami: National Inuit representational organization; comparable as an Indigenous-rights and stewardship body that negotiates federal agreements, climate funding and land claims — a structural parallel to NSMA at the national level.
• Métis National Council: National representative body for the Métis Nation across Canada; relevant as a higher-level advocacy umbrella covering Section 35 rights, federal funding relationships and policy engagement that NSMA participates in at the national level.
• GHD Group: Global environmental and engineering consultancy that partners with Métcor Environmental Inc. to extend its service offering; comparable as a broad incumbent in the same mining/government environmental services market NSMA targets.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

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• Instagraminstagram.com/northslavemetis

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles8 records

Subsidiaries2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds1 record

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about North Slave Métis Alliance