The Dene Nation says the NWT government was wrong to abandon a proposed procurement policy that would have offered special protections for northern Indigenous businesses.
On Monday, Cabin Radio reported the GNWT had decided not to create and implement an Indigenous procurement policy, saying years of work failed to produce consensus on what it should include.
Instead, the main outcome of a process that began in 2021 is a new definition of an NWT Indigenous business – a definition the GNWT says will be used for reporting purposes only.
Cancelling the planned policy “marks a significant setback for Indigenous economic reconciliation and the advancement of Dene-owned businesses in the territory,” the Dene Nation said in a Tuesday news release.
“Instead of addressing systemic inequities, the GNWT has opted for a diluted approach, focusing solely on data collection without implementing meaningful changes to procurement practices.”
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Dene National Chief George Mackenzie was quoted as saying the decision “demonstrates a lack of political will to prioritize reconciliation through economic empowerment.”
The Dene Nation said it is demanding the GNWT return to work on a policy that includes “tangible advantages for Indigenous businesses” and accountability measures.
