For more than two decades, John has worked to preserve, revive and celebrate the culture and language of the Tłįchǫ people, particularly through land-based programs. He is experienced in the area of land claims and self-government negotiation and implementation work in community service and with government agencies in the Tłįchǫ region.

John is committed to advancing education opportunities in the north and supporting research that is grounded in Tłįchǫ cosmology. In his role with the Tłįchǫ Research and Training Institute and senior advisor to the Tłįchǫ Ndek’àowo (Tłįchǫ government), he advises and collaborates at the Institute for Circumpolar Health Research.  His work includes, participating in research projects as a co-investigator and traditional knowledge holder; co-supervising graduate students applying traditional knowledge methods in their research; and, lecturing as invited.