‘Monumental accomplishment for Indigenous peoples; the GNWT honoured to be part of it.”

One of the most significant achievements of 2024 for Environment and Climate Change Minister Jay Macdonald was the finalization of the Our Land for the Future agreement.

The funding, $300 million from the Government of Canada and $75 million from private donors is now expected to start flowing by the middle of the year, the Minister told the NWT Assembly on Wednesday.

It will facilitate the establishment of Indigenous Protected and Conserved Areas, Indigenous Guardians programs, and climate resilience and tourism projects and unspecified economic development.

In the NWT Assembly on Wednesday, Macdonald called the agreement, “a landmark initiative (and) monumental achievement for Indigenous peoples in the Northwest Territories.”

The GNWT supported the initiative in partnership with 23 Indigenous governments, the Government of Canada, and private donors.

“Our Land for the Future will create jobs in small communities across the NWT while promoting sustainable stewardship of NWT lands and resources,” Macdonald said.

“Investments in Indigenous-led conservation efforts will enhance community health and well-being for future generations, contributing to cultural continuity in the territory.

“This achievement brings the Government of the Northwest Territories closer to fulfilling its mandate commitment to advance reconciliation while supporting sustainable economic development and environmental stewardship in the territory.

“It is a monumental accomplishment for Indigenous peoples, and the GNWT is honoured to be part of it.”

Macdonald, who represents the Thebacha riding, said implementation is already underway, with funding anticipated to flow by mid-2025.

Drummers, woodsmoke and dancing helped usher in the signing of an historic $375 million agreement in Behchokǫ̀ in November, one of the largest Indigenous-led land conservation initiatives in the world.

Also on Wednesday, Tu Nedhé-Wiilideh MLA Richard Edjericon asked about the progress of implementing the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples.

“In 2023, the 19th Assembly passed Bill 85, United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples Implementation Act and I was here when this happened,’ said Edjericon.

“It was a momentous occasion that promised to be very beneficial to First Nations, Metis, and Inuit governments across the North.

“All MLAs in this house made an oath to honour and respect the treaties signed with Indigenous people when they took office. The treaties were always the law of the land. They backed up by international legal standards which were reaffirmed through in this chamber.”

With Premier R.J. Simpson in Washington, Deputy Premier Caroline Wawzonek said there is an action plan underway with a target date of this fall of 2025 to have it published.

“I don’t want to presuppose the work of the committee with respect to how the action plan is being formed and what it will contain or its detail.  There is a lot of work happening across departments,” she said.

“There’s a great deal of integration within the Northwest Territories between this government and that of Indigenous governments, and we’ll certainly continue to see that as it goes forward, both this as well as then looking forward to see what the action plan ultimately contains.”

Also at the Assembly on Wednesday, a media notice was issued stating Regular Members will address the public at noon Thursday to provide an update on the state of the 20th Legislative Assembly and Consensus Government.

“The public conference will be held to share key developments, priorities, and achievements of the current legislative term,” stated the notice.

However, it’s also thought to be a forum for some Regular MLA to express frustration with the mechanisms of consensus government and to provide some fixes to inch it closer to the party politics system seen in all provinces and the Yukon.