Community
Tłegǫ́hłı̨ Got’įnę sign final self-government agreement with Ottawa and NWT
This ends 20 years of negotiations, making the TGG NWT's newest Indigenous government
The Tłegǫ́hłı̨ Got’įnę Government (TGG) signed its final self-government agreement with Canada and the GNWT.
The agreement recognizes and supports the Tłegǫ́hłı̨ Got’įnę inherent right to govern themselves, run programs and services – including education and healthcare – and make decisions based on their community’s priorities.
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- There were plenty of memories re-lived as the the Tłegǫ́hłı̨ Got’įnę Government (previously called Norman Wells Land Corp.) in Norman Wells, celebrated the ratification of a self-government agreement in August, with four days of music, games and a community gathering. (James O’Connor/CKLB)
TGG President Sherry Hodgson called the signing, “Canada’s formal recognition of the identity, culture, and inherent right to Self-Government of the Tłegǫ́hłı̨.”
“It’s our generation’s legacy to our children and future generations,” she stated in a release. “We will do our best to use it to preserve, protect, exercise, and advance the inherent and treaty rights of the Tłegǫ́hłı̨ Got’įnę for the benefit of all our people living in Canada.”
The agreement was signed alongside Rebecca Alty, Minister of Crown-Indigenous Relations, and NWT Premier R.J. Simpson.
“This is more than an agreement,” stated Alty. “It’s about restoring the community’s power to make decisions that best support their people, strengthen their culture, and create new opportunities for jobs and economic growth.”
Negotiations began in 2005, leading to an Agreement-in-Principle in 2019 and a draft of the final deal in 2024. Community members ratified the agreement on March 31, followed by a celebration in Norman Wells in July.
The next step is for the territorial and federal governments to pass legislation making the agreement legally binding.
Meanwhile, the Town of Norman Wells will co-exist with the TGG as a separate entity.