Negotiators for the Tłegǫ́hłı̨ Got’įnę, NWT and Canadian governments initialed a draft final self-government agreement in Ottawa on Tuesday.
Tłegǫ́hłı̨ Got’įnę Government Inc represents the Sahtu Dene and Métis of Norman Wells.
According to a press release, the draft final agreement outlines how the organization will exercise its right to self-government.
“Today marks another very important milestone for the Tłegǫ́hłı̨ Got’įnę on our more than 100-year journey toward recognition of our inherent right of self-determination and the rejuvenation of our ancestral self-government,” Sherry Hodgson, president of the Tłegǫ́hłı̨ Got’įnę Government, said in a statement.
“This agreement is a vital step in advancing reconciliation and ensuring that Indigenous peoples have the tools and resources to govern in a way that reflects their priorities and aspirations,” NWT Premier RJ Simpson was quoted as saying.
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The agreement now requires approval from Tłegǫ́hłı̨ Got’ine leadership and members. Once ratified, it will be signed by all parties and made legally binding through the passage of territorial and federal legislation.
Self-government agreements have been or are being negotiated with each of the five communities in the NWT’s Sahtu region, as is required under the Sahtu Dene and Métis Comprehensive Land Claim Agreement.
Délı̨nę’s final self-government agreement became effective on September 1, 2016.
“Recognizing and implementing the self-determination rights of the Tłegǫ́hłı̨ Got’įnę is a crucial step in moving beyond colonial systems of governance and restoring the community’s rightful authority,” federal Crown-Indigenous relations minister Gary Anandasangaree said in a statement.
“The ongoing collaboration between all three parties is essential to ensuring this agreement delivers meaningful benefits for the Tłegǫ́hłı̨ Got’įnę in reclaiming control over their nation’s future.”
