Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Earlier I talked about just getting back to the basics of governance here in the Northwest Territories. My question is to the Minister of Aboriginal Affairs and Intergovernmental Relations.
Here in the North, the NWT, or Denendeh, there are about 43,000 people that make this their home. We have the circumstance of where we have settled areas and unsettled regions. In negotiations there is a perception of the NWT that the NWT is almost a colonial arm or extension of the federal government.
What is the Government of the Northwest Territories doing to promote the resolution of land claims and self-government agreements in the NWT? Mahsi.
Thank you, Mr. Nadli. The honourable Premier, Mr. McLeod.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The Government of the Northwest Territories has been actively participating in all land claims and self-government negotiations. We recently reviewed all of our mandates under these agreements, in order to help facilitate the negotiations. We have also been taking the approach where we have been wanting to improve our working relationships with Aboriginal governments. For those Aboriginal governments that are still negotiating land claims, we have approached them and indicated that we are interested in working with them, and also indicated to them that we would be in a much better position if we could work together and approach the Government of Canada to facilitate these negotiations. I think that we have had a number of discussions with the Dehcho First Nation, and the Akaitcho, as well as the Metis Nation of the Northwest Territories. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
I am glad the Minister highly puts significance on maintaining a workable relationship with First Nations that have unsettled areas, that haven’t settled their land claims yet. Recently the Premier and Cabinet have openly stated that they are very close to finalizing a Devolution Agreement-in-Principle. What is this government doing to prepare communities for devolution? Mahsi.
Our devolution team, and as well as respected members of the Dene communities that have been contracted, have been to every community in the Northwest Territories to explain devolution, except for some communities in the Akaitcho. I think there are maybe one or two communities in the Deh Cho that we still have to get to. But for the most part, we’ve been to every region and every community to explain devolution. Thank you.
Mahsi. I think what I’m seeing at this point with the recent return trip from Ottawa, I think the North has reached a point where we’re looking at the NWT as an iconic north star. It’s a beacon of hope and potential, especially with the GNWT working with First Nations alongside the First Nations and non-Aboriginal peoples.
I understand that the previous Assembly undertook a vision and exercise toward a common vision for the NWT. It’s about basically building upon the political future of the NWT. What elements of this work have been carried forward into the current initiatives that we’re seeing? Mahsi.
I guess the practice for every Assembly is it builds on the work of the previous Assemblies, and we have done that. That report has helped inform us as we move forward in negotiating devolution. Thank you.
Thank you, Mr. McLeod. Final, short supplementary, Mr. Nadli.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My final question is we carry the principle of consensus highly, and that’s what makes this government very unique. So as we advance toward a final resolution of the Devolution Agreement, will this government and this Cabinet ensure that the principle of consensus guide the finalization of the Devolution Agreement? Mahsi.
Thank you. We are a consensus government, and absolutely, we will work under that premise. Thank you.
Thank you, Mr. Premier. The Member for Yellowknife Centre, Mr. Hawkins.
