Intergovernmental Council of the Northwest Territories meets in Yellowknife

Date of Publication

April 14, 2023 (Yellowknife) - Leaders from the Government of the Northwest Territories (GNWT) and Indigenous governments of the Northwest Territories met in Yellowknife to discuss issues related to lands and resource management at the Intergovernmental Council (IGC) meeting.

As a key feature of the Devolution Agreement, the Intergovernmental Council allows governments to cooperate and collaborate on matters related to lands and resource management. The meetings help strengthen relationship of the Indigenous governments with the Government of the Northwest Territories, a main priority of the 19th Legislative Assembly.

At the meeting, IGC leaders signed a Process Convention for lands and resources bills tabled in the Legislative Assembly of the Northwest Territories. The process convention establishes how IGC members will work with the GNWT and the Standing Committee on Accountability and Oversight on a cooperative process to review and develop legislation.

Leaders attending this meeting included:

  • Grand Chief Ken Kyikavichik, Gwich’in Tribal Council
  • Chief April Martel, Kátł’odeeche First Nation
  • President Garry Bailey, Northwest Territory Métis Nation
  • Vice-President Paul Harrington, Northwest Territory Métis Nation
  • Chair Charles McNeely, Sahtu Secretariat Incorporated
  • Grand Chief Jackson Lafferty, Tłı̨chǫ Government
  • Chief Alfonz Nitsiza, Tłı̨chǫ Government
  • Chief Doreen Arrowmaker, Tłı̨chǫ Government
  • Chief Adeline Football, Tłı̨chǫ Government
  • Councilor Kendra Bourke, Salt River First Nation
  • Premier Caroline Cochrane
  • Minister Caroline Wawzonek, Industry, Tourism and Investment
  • Minister Shane Thompson, Environment and Climate Change

MLA Kevin O’Reilly, representing the 19th Legislative Assembly Standing Committee on Accountability and Oversight, attended the meeting as an observer. MLA Frieda Martselos, as Caucus Chair of the Legislative Assembly, and MLA O’Reilly, both attended the ceremonial signing of the Process Convention.

 

Quick Facts

  • 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 $48 million to the Indigenous government signatories of the Devolution Agreement.
  • In November 2020, the IGC agreed to a new legislative development protocol that respects the jurisdictions of all IGC members and provides opportunities for collaboration on the development of land and resource legislation and regulations in the Northwest Territories.

 

Links

  • Intergovernmental Council of the Northwest Territories website

 

For more information, contact: Boyd Clark

Advisor/Band Manager (Acting)

Acho Dene Koe First Nation 303-681-5171

 

Angela Tripathy

Chief Executive Officer

Gwich’in Tribal Council

867-777-7927

 

Elizabeth Kolb

Communications Advisor

Inuvialuit Regional Corporation

867-777-7055

 

Ursula Vogt

Executive Director

Northwest Territory Métis Nation

867-872-2770

 

Elizabeth Westwell

Chief Executive Officer

Salt River First Nation 867-872-2986

 

Tłı̨chǫ Government Communication & Media Relations

media@tlicho.ca

 

Todd Sasaki

Manager, Public Affairs and Communications Government of the Northwest Territories 867-767-9168 ext. 15015

 

Orlena Modeste

Executive Director

Sahtu Secretariat Incorporated

867-589-4719

 

Carol Ann Chaplin

Senior Administrative Officer

Denı́nu Kų́ę́ First Nation

(867) 394-4335

 

Alex Gresl

Chief Executive Officer Kátł’odeeche First Nation 867-874-6701