Indigenous leadership snubbed at Western Premiers’ reception, says Dene Nation

The Dene Nation wants an apology as it says Indigenous leadership was excluded from recognition protocols at the opening reception of the Western Premiers’ Conference.

Dene National Chief George Mackenzie stated the snub, “speaks volumes about the current state of relationship between the GNWT and Indigenous peoples.”

In a statement released after the close of the Conference on Thursday, Mackenzie stated the territorial government, “once again demonstrated a concerning disconnect between territorial governance and the people they serve.”

He continued: ”It is deeply troubling that in 2025, in a territory where Indigenous peoples make up 49.6% of the population, our presence and protocols continue to be overlooked at official government functions.”

“This is not merely about protocol – it is about respect, recognition, and the fundamental right of Indigenous peoples to be represented in territorial affairs.”

The Wednesday night reception at the NWT Legislative Assembly followed a supper-hour Dene Nation protest concerning Alberta’s separatist Premier Danielle Smith’s presence at the conference.

Mackenzie stated that Indigenous governments are essential partners in governance and decision-making processes and require meaningful consultation and engagement.

Media were not invited to the reception, but photos released by organizers showed YKDFN drummers, GNWT cabinet members and Commissioner Gerry Kisoun inside with the premiers and staff, as the Dene Nation’s protest was outside.

At the conference on Thursday, premiers discussed shared priorities and collaborative action on evolving international trade and tariffs, economic corridors, energy security and exports, Arctic security and sovereignty, public safety, emergency preparedness, and housing.

Premiers expressed disappointment in the lack of improvement in Indigenous housing conditions and significant delays in disbursing federal funding.

Investments in housing are key to supporting reconciliation, and Premiers called on the federal government to accelerate investment for Indigenous housing in urban, rural, and northern areas, both on and off-reserve.

Premiers discussed the importance of addressing drug trafficking and bail reform to better support public safety and public confidence in the justice system.

The communique stated: Ending the scourge of toxic drugs is a multifaceted and complex issue with serious impacts to communities, families and individuals. The federal government must ensure the criminal justice system is more responsive in addressing community concerns and ensuring public safety.

NWT Premier R.J. Simpson told media after the Conference that Indigenous concerns were kept at the forefront by all of the premiers, at one point or another.

“When we talk about things like resource development, that’s ensuring that there is Indigenous partnership. When we’re talking about investing in infrastructure, we’re talking about ensuring there’s Indigenous proponents in those projects,” said Simpson.

“Same thing with housing, talking about the need for the federal government to do more to support on-reserve housing, and the need for the federal government to recognize that we have two reserves in the territory, but most communities are Indigenous in the Northwest Territories, and they’re not on reserve, and the federal government needs to recognize that and support them appropriately.

“We work closely with Alberta on a lot of fronts, and we’re going to continue to work closely with Alberta on a lot of fronts. There’s obviously issues that the Dene Nation has with the Government of Alberta, and that’s their issue with the Government of Alberta.

“In the Northwest Territories, we have a strong relationship with Indigenous governments, and I think that and Indigenous organizations, and I think that our track record speaks for itself on that front.”

As for the Dene Nation’s support for Treaties 6, 7, and 8 signatories, Alberta Premier Danielle Smith said if Prime Minister Mark Carney acts on the ideas in our communique today, “that would take the wind right out of any effort” to move the province out of Confederation.

“The frustration that Alberta has … it’s been a lot easier to do business with our southern neighbours than it’s been to do business across the country,” she said. “And what I’ve seen since November, is a real (team) spirit among the premiers talking about how we can help each other, how we can trade with each other, how we can work together to create new economic corridors, so we can all get our various products to markets.

“If we can find some support from the federal government on that, I think that’s all that the people of Alberta have been looking for.”