Intergovernmental Council of the Northwest Territories meets in Yellowknife

Press Release

November 19, 2024 (Yellowknife) – Leaders from the Government of the Northwest Territories (GNWT) and nine Indigenous governments of the Northwest Territories met in Yellowknife to discuss issues related to lands and resource management at the Intergovernmental Council 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 the GNWT’s relationships with the Indigenous governments of the Northwest Territories, a main priority of the Government of the Northwest Territories.

Intergovernmental Council leaders discussed a range of items related to lands, water and resources, including how to better support the Intergovernmental Council Secretariat, the approach to administration and management of traditional use cabins on public land and updates on ongoing initiatives.

Leaders attending this meeting included:

Chief Eugene Hope, Acho Dene Koe First Nation
Vice-Chair Kelly McLeod, 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
Premier R.J. Simpson
Minister Caitlin Cleveland, Industry, Tourism and Investment and Education, Culture and Employment
Minister Jay Macdonald, Environment and Climate Change

MLA Denny Rodgers, representing the 20th Legislative Assembly Standing Committee on Accountability and Oversight, attended the meeting as an observer

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 $53 million to its Devolution partners.
In November 2020, the Intergovernmental Council agreed to a new legislative development protocol that respects the jurisdictions of all Intergovernmental Council members and provides opportunities for collaboration on the development of land and resource legislation and regulations in the Northwest Territories.

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