NT

Government of NWT – Leaders from the Government of the Northwest Territories (GNWT) and the five Indigenous governments with modern treaty and self-government agreements in the Northwest Territories held their third meeting as the Modern Treaty and Self-Government Partners (MTSGP).
Leaders discussed a range of issues of mutual interest related to implementation of land, resources, and self-government agreements, including:

• Moving forward on the implementation of the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples in the NWT through the working group established under the NWT Council of Leaders, especially Article 37 that states treaties and agreements must be respected, recognized, observed, and enforced;
• Continuing to work collaboratively on procurement to develop an approach that reflects the interests of all parties and recognizes the need to ensure the implementation of modern treaty obligations;
• Identifying opportunities for social and economic recovery following the COVID-19 pandemic impact and due to the decrease in industry activity in the resource sector; and
• Creating opportunities for joint engagement with the federal government.

The leaders also signed the Modern Treaty and Self-Government Partners Forum Founding Agreement to formally establish the Forum, an example of what reconciliation should look like between governments. It provides the five Modern Treaty partners and the Government of the Northwest Territories an opportunity to discuss matters of mutual concern and work collaboratively to improve the ongoing implementation of land claims and self-government agreements.

Cabin Radio – A new Legislative Development Protocol from the Intergovernmental Council of the Northwest Territories gives Indigenous governments a seat at the table for decisions about land and resource management.

• The protocol is consistent with the IGA commitment to collaborate on changes to land and resource management systems, as well as providing a consistent approach for parties to follow.
• The protocol is the first agreement of its kind in Canada, and provides opportunities for the collaborative development of land and resource statutes and regulations for the GNWT and Indigenous governments.
• The protocol supports the implementation of the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples by respecting, consulting and collaborating with Indigenous Governments on land and resource management.

https://www.gov.nt.ca/sites/flagship/files/documents/intergovernmental_council_legislative_development_protocol.pdf

Priorities led by Department of Executive and Indigenous Affairs:

• Settle and implement treaty, land, resources, and self-government agreements
• Implement the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples
• Increase regional decision-making authority (with support of other Depts and agencies)
• Priorities where Department of Executive and Indigenous Affairs has a supporting role:
• Strengthen the government’s leadership and authority on climate change
• Ensure climate change impacts are specifically considered when making government decisions

https://www.gov.nt.ca/sites/flagship/files/documents/mandate2019-web-en.pdf

The Northwest Territories’ incoming government will hold a day-long round-table meeting with leaders of more than a dozen Indigenous groups on Oct. 17, 2019. “This meeting will provide a forum for leaders to share their perspectives and voice their concerns and interests about the many issues and opportunities the Northwest Territories is faced with today,” the news release stated.

Premier Bob McLeod issued a red alert calling for an urgent national debate on the future of the Northwest Territories who believe their reconciliation efforts and economic development opportunities are being undermined by Ottawa and the political needs and voices of southern Canada

The Government of the Northwest Territories (GNWT) continues to move towards reconciliation, particularly through the actions outlined in ‘Meeting the Challenge of Reconciliation’. Many of the actions within that document are ongoing, but this update provides some highlights, organized by theme, of additional work done.
https://www.eia.gov.nt.ca/sites/eia/files/an_update_to_meeting_the_challenge_of_reconciliation_the_gnwts_response_to_the_trcs_calls_to_action.pdf

Detailed responses/updates to all 94 C2A
The GNWT’s responses are not intended to be a full answer to the recommendations. They represent a new step in the broader process of reconciliation.
https://www.eia.gov.nt.ca/sites/eia/files/gnwt_response_to_trc_calls_to_action.pdf

NWT is the only jurisdiction where the federal government has negotiated comprehensive land claims with the Métis or are presently in negotiations with the Northwest Territory Métis Nation