Devolution talks engage northerners

For more than 30 years, devolution - the authority to manage one's own public lands and natural resources - has been a goal of the Government of Northwest Territories. With a final devolution agreement currently being negotiated with Canada's federal government, the northern territory is now laying the groundwork for effectively managing its land and natural resources once the devolution process is complete.

Northwest Territories, which is slightly larger than the Province of Ontario, covers 1.183 million square kilometers (456,792 square miles). But unlike the populous southern province that is home to Canada's largest city and its national capital, Northwest Territories has a tiny population numbering less than 41,500 residents who have had little control over the territory's destiny.

All that is about to change when the current negotiations for devolution are concluded - expected by year's end - and the administrative authority and control over public lands, resources and rights in respect of water in the Northwest Territories is transferred from the federal government to the territorial government.

Issues under negotiation include an oil and gas cooperation agreement, how existing environmental hazards will be managed, and determining the line between the onshore and offshore areas of the Northwest Territories. In side negotiations, the GNWT is also finalizing an agreement with participating Aboriginal governments that will enable a cooperative approach to the management of lands and resources on both public and settlement lands. A final agreement on resource revenue-sharing between the territorial and Aboriginal governments is also nearing completion.

After devolution, the GNWT will share up to 25 percent of its royalties with Aboriginal governments within the territory's borders - a sharing that is unprecedented in Canada.

In June, the territorial government published "Towards A GNWT Land Use and Sustainability Framework," a discussion paper that describes its public interests and current thinking on managing public lands, water and resources after devolution and invited public input and assistance in crafting the final framework.

"I see this document as an important tool for engaging with Canada, Aboriginal governments, and others to get input on what will eventually become the 'GNWT Land Use and Sustainability Framework'," said Northwest Territories Premier Robert R. McLeod in introducing the discussion paper. Comments are due by Sept. 30.

New Aboriginal talks

GNWT leaders, led by McLeod, meanwhile, have been making inroads in building stronger ties with Aboriginal governments. McLeod met July 19 with the newly-elected Gwich'in Tribal Council President Robert A. Alexie, Vice-President Norman Snowshoe and Chief Operating Officer Fred E. Koe in Yellowknife in what is described as a first step in opening doors for an ongoing and productive partnership between the GNWT and the new Council leadership, "one that aims at delivering real benefits to the Gwich'in."

"We have a small territory, and we need to pull together if we want to achieve our shared vision of a strong, self-sufficient Northwest Territories," McLeod in a statement. "Our government is committed to working with this territory's Aboriginal governments in the spirit of respect, recognition and responsibility. I believe the Government of the Northwest Territories and the GTC share many of the same priorities, and I look forward to working with President Alexie and the new GTC executive to advance the interests of all NWT residents, including the Gwich'in."

GTC President Alexie said he was pleased at the outcome of the preliminary talks.

"We are pleased to have this early meeting with Premier McLeod today," he said. "As elected leaders, we have a joint and community responsibility to work together in a productive and transparent way. We look forward to a more productive partnership between the GNWT and the new GTC leadership, one that aims at delivering real benefits to the Gwich'in."

MOU with the Tłįchǫǫ

The GNWT government's 17th Legislative Assembly met June 29 with members of the Executive Councils of the Tłįchǫ Government for the second time to discuss issues of shared importance and to sign "Working Together", a memorandum of understanding recognizing the importance of their government-to-government relationship.

The MOU acknowledges the unique and evolving relationship between the two governments and identifies areas of cooperation including housing, income support and infrastructure.

After signing the memorandum, which formalizes the territorial government's relationship with the Tłįchǫ Government, McLeod said, "The people of the Northwest Territories need their governments to work together to help create a strong and prosperous territory that provides benefits to all of them.

The Government of the Northwest Territories is committed to strengthening our relationships with Aboriginal governments, and the agreement we have signed today demonstrates that commitment," he added.

Tłįchǫ Grand Chief Edward Erasmus said, "I, too, am pleased to be able to sign this memorandum of understanding with the leaders of the GNWT today. This MOU is an agreement to work together - government-to-government. The MOU sets out the reasons we want to work together and how we will go about doing so. It is important that as the leaders of the two governments we work together for the good of our people in our communities. There are so many areas where we have overlapping interests, and if we don't work together, it is our people who suffer in the end."

Sahtu rejoin talks

A little over a month earlier, the Sahtu Secretariat Incorporated rejoined the devolution negotiations, signing an agreement in principle May 22.

"The Sahtu Dene and Métis have been important participants throughout the devolution negotiations process since 2001, and we are pleased that SSI has joined us again to help shape the final agreement," said McLeod. "We welcome all NWT regional Aboriginal governments to participate at the negotiations table and ensure the voices and priorities of their people are reflected in this historic agreement. While devolution does not affect Aboriginal and treaty rights, Aboriginal governments should take the opportunity to work together and help ensure the best possible devolution agreement for everyone in the NWT," he added.

Canada's Minister of Aboriginal Affairs and Northern Development John Duncan also hailed the move by the Sahtu. "The Government of Canada is pleased to see the Sahtu seize this opportunity to help shape the future of the territory and share in the benefits that will flow from devolution," Duncan said. "The Government of Canada's Northern Strategy envisions putting greater decision making in the hands of the people of the Northwest Territories. Working together through devolution, land claim and self-government negotiations and other initiatives, we will achieve remarkable progress towards this objective."

Nellie Cournoyea, chair and CEO of Inuvialuit Regional Corporation, said, "The participation of the Sahtu will bring additional depth and strength to the Aboriginal voice in these important negotiations, and will contribute to a more productive relationship with the GNWT and the development of a devolution agreement that will work for all regions of the NWT."

Both the IRC and the Métis Nation signed agreements in principle to participate in the negotiations in early 2011.

Norman Yakeleya, MLA Sahtu, said, "It is important for the Sahtu to be at the table to have their views represented. It's always better to negotiate your own fate than to have others do it for you. The Sahtu are now owning up to 100 percent of our responsibility to determine our destiny," he added.

For more information or to provide comments on the framework discussion paper, contact Catherine Boyd at (867) 873-7541 or [email protected].