The Tłegǫ́hłı̨ Got’įnę Government (TGG) is now the Northwest Territories’ newest Indigenous government after the ratification vote wrapped up on Monday.
According to a notice of results released Tuesday, 86 per cent of ballots were cast in favor of ratifying the final self-government agreement and constitution. Of 261 eligible voters, 182 participated, with 157 ballots voting ‘yes’.
This marks the start of a one-year transition period for TGG, during which core laws will be developed, staff will be recruited and trained, and administrative structures will be put in place.
“I really hope that the self-government will change the lives of all residents of Norman Wells,” said Sherry Hodgson, the president of the TGG Inc., formerly the Norman Wells Lands Corporation.
“It will help with the economy of Norman Wells and hopefully create employment for our own residents,” she said. “We’ll have a lot of strength, unity, commitment to preserving our way of life and embracing opportunities for growth.”
Hodgson said self-government will improve job stability within the TGG, as the land corporation previously struggled to offer stable, long-term positions with benefits as a non-profit. It employed 20 to 25 staff on yearly contracts.
“We struggled to keep people because they would move on,” she said. “Hopefully, we’ll be able to help people stay longer and feel more secure in the job that they’re doing.”
Hodgson will remain president until an election, expected within two years of TGG taking full effect on April 1, 2026. The election will form a legislative council with eight members, half serving four-year terms and half serving two-year terms.
“Self-government is new to us,” she added. “There’s a lot of different roads and avenues that we have to cross to get to where we hope will be the best for all of us to live in harmony in the community of Norman Wells.”
Meanwhile, the Town of Norman Wells will co-exist with the TGG as a separate entity. However, the TGG could transition to a public Indigenous government if Tłegǫ́hłı̨ Got’įnę members make up at least 70 per cent of the town’s population.
Currently, that threshold is far off—Norman Wells had 673 residents in the 2021 census, while recent voting results suggest the Tłegǫ́hłı̨ Got’įnę membership sits at just over 260.
The president said the next step for the TGG is to meet with MLAs and other partners to discuss implementation plans and ongoing service delivery.
