Thank you, Mr. Speaker, and you only had to ask me once today. Mr. Speaker, in all seriousness, earlier today I spoke about the important matter of us settling our land rights with the Indigenous people of the Northwest Territories. My questions today are for the Premier. Mr. Speaker, every session, I try to make a point of doing a Member's statement and asking oral questions on this matter. I would like to ask the Premier, since last May when he provided this House with the last update, I think it was around the time that the Ministerial special reports came out, has there been progress over the summer? Can the Minister update this House? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Masi. Honourable Premier.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The Ministerial special representative reports were a very important step in advancing Indigenous rights in the Northwest Territories, and were a key part of our commitment to look at new creative options to advance negotiations on land claims. After the MSR reports were issues, the Government of Canada, Minister Bennett and myself met separately with the Chiefs of the Akaitcho Territory, the presidents of the Northwest Territories Metis nation, and the Dehcho Grand Chief and leaders to review the report and to discuss next steps. In the case of the Akaitcho and the NWT Metis Nation, new offers with a range of options and increased flexibility were tabled within 45 days to both the Akaitcho and the NWT Metis Nation. With regards to the Dehcho, the Dehcho received a letter from Minister Bennett and myself seeking confirmation from the Dehcho First Nations that there is common ground on two fundamental issues that have challenged negotiations for many years. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
I appreciate the update that the Premier was able to share with us. I had a different line of questioning, but the Premier has indicated there were a couple of fundamental issues. He was prepared to indicate that here in the House, so I am wondering: can the Premier elaborate a little bit more on what the context of the fundamental issues are, and are these solvable? Can we get past them? Will there be a resolution to the Dehcho's land rights?
There are two fundamental issues. The first fundament issue is whether the Government of the Northwest Territories effectively is a full partner in negotiations towards a Dehcho final agreement. The second fundamental issue is with regards to the Dehcho portion of resource management in the Northwest Territories. Will they be looking at a single integrated Mackenzie Valley Resource Management Act, or will they be looking at a standalone system, a resource management that is coordinated with neighbouring regions to the Northwest Territories? Those are the two fundamental issues that we are seeking confirmation of.
Thank you to the Premier for that insight. I think we waited a really long time for these reports. We waited a couple of years to get these reports. We see them as critical tools in advancing the settlement of these land right agreements. I am wondering: can the Premier let us know if, in fact, after all this time, these reports have been helpful at all? Are they going to be the guiding documents to settle these land rights once and for all?
In my view, the MSR reports jump-started the negotiations so that there was increased emphasis on some of these longstanding negotiations. Some of these have been going for over 20 years, and the MSR reports provided an arm's length view of both issues and challenges, and it allowed us to find a way forward to look at overlap issues and also to deal with more increased facilitation that will allow us to move forward in land claims negotiations.
Masi. Oral questions. Member for Yellowknife North.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Thank you again to the Premier for his reply. It seems as though the reports are going to be fundamental going forward to find some degree of resolution and solution to these land right agreements. I just want to put it to the Premier one more time: does he still feel confident that one, two, or all of these land right agreements can be completed in the life of this Assembly? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Yes, we are working very hard towards those objectives, and negotiations continue with the Northwest Territories Metis Nation and the Akaitcho on the recent proposals. We are very optimistic that the new offers that Canada and the Government of the Northwest Territories put on the table with their built-in flexibility and the ability of the Indigenous governments to tailor their agreement to their priorities, I believe will give us the impetus to make some real progress. I am also happy to report that we recently received correspondence from the Dehcho First Nations government. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Masi. Oral questions. Member for Frame Lake.
