The community, territory and Canada have initialed a draft final agreement
First Peoples Law Report: CBC News: Eye on the Arctic – The organization representing the Sahtu Dene and Métis in Norman Wells, N.W.T. is one step closer to establishing self-government.
In a joint news release issued Tuesday, the community’s Indigenous government, Tłegǫ́hłı̨ Got’ine, along with the federal government and the territorial governments announced they “initialled” a draft Final Self-Government Agreement.
There are no details on what’s been established in the draft agreement, it just says that Tłegǫ́hłı̨ Got’ine “will exercise its inherent right of self-government.”
Next the agreement needs to be approved, or ratified, by Tłegǫ́hłı̨ Got’ine leaders and members, the release says.
After ratification, all parties will sign the agreement and “it will be made legally binding through the passage of territorial and federal legislation.”
CBC News reached out to Tłegǫ́hłı̨ Got’ine Government, the federal government and territorial government to talk about the agreement, but none were immediately available.
The release says that the self-government agreements gives more authority to Indigenous communities.
“Through these agreements, Indigenous communities solidify the authority to make decisions about programs, services, laws, and economic development, based on their unique cultural, social, and political needs,” the release reads.
The Crown-Indigenous Relations and Northern Affairs Canada (CIRNAC) website says self-government is unique in each case as each community is different. However, the site states that all agreements negotiated to date have included a few similarities.
This includes, the community’s Indigenous people approving the agreement through a vote. Non-members who live on Indigenous lands have also previously always been able to provide input into the agreement as it affects them directly.
The Sahtu Dene Métis Land Claim agreement outlines that Sahtu communities could each negotiate self-government agreements.
The only Sahtu community that has established self-government is Délı̨nę.
Related stories from around the North:
Canada: Yukon commission proposes new electoral boundary adjustments ahead of final report, CBC News
Finland: Finnish Court annuls 2023 Sámi elections, The Independent Barents Observer
Norway: Silje Karine Muotka is new President of the Sámi Parliament in Norway, The Independent Barents Observer