Mr. Speaker, later today I will table a document that represents a major step toward fulfilling the 17th Legislative Assembly’s priority of building a strong and sustainable future for our territory by strengthening our relationships with Aboriginal governments.
This document, titled “Respect, Recognition, Responsibility: The Government of the Northwest Territories Approach to Engaging with Aboriginal Governments,” is the foundation of our government’s engagement approach, upon which all of our actions and commitments are built. Respect, recognition and responsibility is our formal commitment to a set of principles and key actions to strengthen and renew our relationships with our Aboriginal government partners.
Mr. Speaker, this government represents all the people of the Northwest Territories, and we are committed to engaging with and representing the interests of all residents. But our relationship with Aboriginal governments is unique and different than our relationships with other governments and organizations in the territory. That special status is recognized in our Intergovernmental Relations Policy, which affirms our government-to-government relationship with all Aboriginal governments that have negotiated or are in the process of negotiating self-government agreements in the Northwest Territories.
Mr. Speaker, in recognition of this unique relationship, our government is taking steps to strengthen and renew our partnerships with Aboriginal governments. Since being elected in October, we have been doing business in a new way, finding new approaches to working together with Aboriginal governments on behalf of all residents.
Part of this new approach includes a commitment to meet with leaders from all Aboriginal governments bilaterally. Since October, I have met with Aboriginal governments and community leaders on over 20 separate occasions in all regions of the territory. The discussions at these early meetings focused on identifying areas of common ground between our governments and discussing ways we can work together. My Cabinet colleagues and I have also held formal joint meetings with the Taicho Government, the Northwest Territory Métis Nation, the Beaufort-Delta Regional Council, the Gwich’in Tribal Council and the Dehcho First Nations.
The issues we discussed and the comments we heard at these meetings shaped the development of respect, recognition and responsibility. Many of the comments we heard focused on our successes and areas where improvements can be made. What was most important and encouraging is a willingness on the part of all parties to engage in strengthening these relationships and working together to find solutions for the benefit of all Northwest Territories residents.
Mr. Speaker, our government makes the following formal commitments to our Aboriginal government partners: that we will continue to recognize and respect the constitutionally protected rights and treaty rights of Aboriginal peoples, as well as existing Aboriginal rights agreements. We will be open, flexible and responsive in working with the diverse governance structures of regional Aboriginal governments and understanding the unique interests and challenges of each region and community. More specifically, we will make every effort to share information and knowledge, help build capacity, enhance our government’s participation at annual general assemblies and other important events, and establish regular formal meetings with each Aboriginal government in the Northwest Territories.
In support of the commitments, our government is also developing an implementation guide for our staff. We need a consistent approach and this guide will provide direction and outline specific actions staff will take to strengthen relations with Aboriginal governments and communities through our everyday interactions.
Finally, Mr. Speaker, our public commitment and overall approach to engaging with Aboriginal governments will be supported by a public awareness campaign intended to increase Northwest Territories residents’ understanding and knowledge of Aboriginal rights, and how these rights form the basis of our commitment and efforts to build mutually respectful government-to-government relations. This campaign is expected to consist of a series of informative documents to be released between June and December 2012.
Mr. Speaker, in order to take advantage of the opportunities that are before us and to successfully address the social, economic and environmental challenges our territory is facing, we need to build strong relationships with our Aboriginal government partners at all levels: leaders, senior managers and all staff. Aboriginal governments are our partners and colleagues as we work together to serve the people we represent. We may not always agree, but we must always be willing to talk to and seek to understand each other, and be willing to work toward solutions in a spirit of mutual respect, recognition and responsibility. Our government is committed to a new approach to building greater collaboration and participation in our partnerships with Aboriginal governments so we can all achieve our shared goals. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Mr. Premier. The honourable Minister of Justice, Mr. Abernethy.
