Yellowknives Dene, Tłı̨chǫ agree on proposed corridor for future Arctic Security Corridor route

The Yellowknives Dene First Nation and Tłı̨chǫ Government say they have reached consensus on a proposed corridor for the Arctic Economic and Security Corridor.

In a Saturday news release, the Indigenous governments said the proposed corridor is roughly 30km wide and is not a final route. A precise route within the corridor will be decided after further engineering, environmental assessment and regulatory work, the release said.

The Indigenous governments said now that a proposed corridor has been agreed on, they plan to engage with communities, neighbouring Indigenous governments and other interested parties.

“The strongest outcomes will come from bringing our knowledge, perspectives, and priorities together, and from ensuring that the people most affected have a meaningful voice in what comes next and that mitigations to protect the water, lands and wildlife are carefully thought through,” Chief Ernest Betsina and Chief Fred Sangris of the Yellowknives Dene First Nation were quoted as saying.

“What people tell us in the weeks and months ahead will help shape the path forward. This is the start of an important conversation – not the end of it – and by working together, we can build a stronger outcome for our communities and for the future.”

The Arctic Economic and Security Corridor, or AESC, is a proposed all-season highway from Yellowknife to the Nunavut border. It is intended to connect to a proposed road through Nunavut to the Grays Bay port on the Arctic Ocean.

Prime Minister Mark Carney referred the NWT highway to the federal Major Projects Office in March. The Grays Bay Port and Road project is on the path to being declared a project of national interest.

In November 2025, the Yellowknives Dene First Nation and Tłı̨chǫ Government signed an agreement to work together to advance the proposed Arctic Economic and Security Corridor. In January 2026, the GNWT signed onto the agreement.

Caribou, prosperity and Indigenous communities

The Indigenous governments said protecting caribou, long-term prosperity, Indigenous leadership and connecting Tłı̨chǫ communities were priorities when determining the corridor for the proposed highway.

“We chose this corridor to reduce the harm to caribou as much as we can, knowing a road in the barrenlands will still have impacts we must manage,” said Tłı̨chǫ Grand Chief Jackson Lafferty in the news release.

“Reaching it took compromise and respect. It is exciting to show Canada how we can lead and design major projects as Indigenous nations.”

The proposed corridor starts between Boundary Creek and west of Yellowknife, with a minimum 15km setback from city limits to “maximize the benefits accruing to Indigenous governments rather than the City of Yellowknife” a document explaining the route said.

The corridor runs west of Discovery Mine, Wekweètì and Point Lake, includes Colomac Mine, and ends near Izok Lake.

The Indigenous governments said the agreed corridor came after more than a year of work using “robust technical and community-led studies informed by traditional knowledge and western science.”

While the initial proposed corridor for the AESC would have followed the route of the Tibbitt to Contwoyto Winter Road past the Diavik, Ekati and Gahcho Kué diamond mines, the consensus corridor is well away from those sites.

Future of NWT depends on governments ‘working differently together’

In a statement issued Saturday following the announcement of the proposed corridor, NWT Premier RJ Simpson and Caroline Wawzonek, territorial minister of strategic infrastructure, energy and supply chains, said they recognized the “solid foundation” the agreement provides for “the important next phase of work to advance” the AESC.

“I want to recognize the leadership of the Tłı̨chǫ Government and the Yellowknives Dene First Nation in reaching consensus on a proposed corridor. Getting here has taken hard work, compromise and a willingness to find common ground on issues that matter deeply to both nations and their citizens,” said Simpson.

“The future of the Northwest Territories will depend on governments working differently together to advance major opportunities, with Indigenous governments as leaders and partners from the outset.

“That is how we build stronger relationships, make better decisions and create lasting benefits for the territory and the people who call it home.”

Wazonek said the GNWT “supports proceeding with the proposed corridor for engagement.”

“The AESC is nation-building,” said Wazonek. “It will establish land access into one of Canada’s most important critical mineral regions, where known mineral potential is significant but much of the area remains underexplored.”

“It will also create Canada’s first land-based link to Nunavut’s Arctic coast. The AESC will strengthen northern infrastructure and supply chains, create opportunities for Indigenous and Northern businesses and workers, support economic development across the North and strengthen Canada’s Arctic sovereignty.”