Intergovernmental Council Meeting held in Yellowknife

Date of Publication

December 2, 2020  (YELLOWKNIFE) – Leaders from the Government of the Northwest Territories (GNWT) and nine Indigenous governments, who are partners in Devolution, met in Yellowknife to discuss issues related to lands and resource management at the Intergovernmental Council (IGC) meeting.

At the meeting, IGC leaders adopted the IGC Legislative Development Protocol (Protocol) that represents a progressive and forward-looking step in the development of future Northwest Territories lands and resources legislation.   The IGC Secretariat collaboratively negotiated the Protocol that is consistent with the NWT Intergovernmental Agreement on Lands and Resources Management commitment to a collaborative approach to legislative development, sets out an efficient and consistent approach for parties to follow and provides opportunity for mutual collaboration on legislative development, while respecting the jurisdictions of all IGC parties. 

The Intergovernmental Council approved the 2019-2020 Intergovernmental Council Annual Report that highlights the collaboration between the GNWT and the nine Indigenous government partners in the implementation of the NWT Intergovernmental Agreement on Lands and Resource Management.

The IGC Strategic Plan was also approved in principle, and the leaders directed the IGC  Secretariat to finalize the plan for further review and implementation. 

The IGC, on behalf of its member governments, agreed to advise Canada that it is ready to begin negotiating the terms of reference for the section 3.18 review of the Mackenzie Valley Resource Management Act related provisions of the Devolution Agreement.

Leaders attending this meeting included:

  • Grand Chief George Mackenzie, Tłı̨chǫ Government
  • Chief of Whatı̀, Alfonz Nitsiza, Tłı̨chǫ Government
  • Chief of Behchokǫ̀, Clifford Daniels, Tłı̨chǫ Government
  • Chief of Wekweètı̀, Charlie Football, Tłı̨chǫ Government
  • President Garry Bailey, Northwest Territory Métis Nation
  • Chief David Poitras, Salt River First Nation
  • Chair/CEO Duane Ningaqsiq Smith, Inuvialuit Regional Corporation
  • Chairperson Charles McNeely, Sahtu Secretariat Incorporated
  • Vice-Chairperson Sherry Hodgson, Sahtu Secretariat Incorporated
  • Chief April Martel, Kátł’odeeche First Nation
  • Councilor Peter Sabourin, Kátł’odeeche First Nation
  • Grand Chief Ken Smith, Gwich’in Tribal Council
  • Deputy Grand Chief Kristine McLeod, Gwich’in Tribal Council
  • Chief Eugene Hope, Acho Dene Koe First Nation
  • Premier Caroline Cochrane
  • Minister Caroline Wawzonek, Department of Industry, Tourism and Investment
  • Minister Shane Thompson, Department of Environment and Natural Resources, and Department of Lands
  • Minister R.J. Simpson, Department of Education, Culture and Employment
  • MLA Steve Norn, Chair of the Standing Committee on Accountability and Oversight

As a key feature of the Devolution Agreement, the creation of an Intergovernmental Council allows governments to cooperate and collaborate on matters related to lands and resource management. The meetings help strengthen the territorial government’s relationships with the NWT Indigenous partners, a main priority of the 19th Legislative Assembly.

Leaders discussed a range of lands, water and resources issues. The agenda included:

  • Approval of the IGC Legislative Development Protocol
  • Approval in principle of the IGC Strategic Plan
  • Update on consideration of GNWT’s forthcoming legislative initiatives
  • Approval of the 2019-2020 IGC Annual Report
  • Consideration of forthcoming IGC initiatives under the 2014 NWT Intergovernmental Agreement on Lands and Resources Management.

 

Quick Facts

  • A key feature of the Devolution Agreement is the establishment of an Intergovernmental Council to allow the public and Indigenous governments to cooperate and collaborate on matters related to lands and resource management.
  • The IGC is established by the Northwest Territories Intergovernmental Agreement on Lands and Resources Management.
  • The IGC allows governments to share ideas, discuss common priorities and interests and explore ways to harmonize their respective land and resource management practices, share capacity and avoid duplication.  
  • Under the Devolution Agreement, the GNWT committed to share up to 25% of its resource revenues with Indigenous governments that have signed on as partners. Since 2015, the GNWT has disbursed over $31 million to its Devolution partners.
  • For more information, please visit http://www.igcnwt.ca/

 

For more information, contact:

Todd Sasaki

Senior Communications Officer
Government of the Northwest Territories
867-767-9168 ext.  15015

Elizabeth Kolb

Communications Advisor

Inuvialuit Regional Corporation

867-777-7055

Ursula Vogt

Executive Director

Northwest Territory Métis Nation

867-872-2770

Doug Matthews

Consultant

Sahtu Secretariat Incorporated

867-589-4719

Amber Keegan

Gwich’in Tribal Council

867-777-7900

Laura Duncan

Tłı̨chǫ Executive Officer

Tłı̨chǫ Government

867-392-6381

Boyd Clark

Advisor/Operations Manager

Acho Dene Koe First Nation
303-681-5171

Carol Ann Chaplin

Senior Administrative Officer