Tłegǫ́hłı̨ Got’įnę receives assent for self-government Act

The Tłegǫ́hłı̨ Got’įnę government is now one step closer to achieving true self-governance.

It was recently announced that Commissioner Gerald W. Kisoun granted assent to the Tłegǫ́hłı̨ Got’įnę Final Self-Government Act. This action officially brings the Indigenous community in Norman Wells much closer to securing their right to make their own laws; preserve and protect their language and culture; run programs and services, including education and healthcare; and elect their own leadership.

Sherry Hodgson, the President of the Tłegǫ́hłı̨ Got’įnę Government, spoke on the announcement.

“This Final Self-Government Agreement is Canada’s formal recognition of the Tłegǫ́hłı̨ Got’įnę identity, culture, and inherent right to Self-Government. It provides the formal basis for a new government-to-government relationship between us and the Government of Canada, and a government-to-government relation between us and the Government of the Northwest Territories.

“It is our generation’s legacy to our children and future generations. 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, here today. But our youth are the future, and this agreement provides our youth with the foundations to do the same when they take on the task of preserving, protecting, exercising and advancing our rights. Use this Self-Government Agreement, learn from the mistakes we may make and take us into the future—secure as Sahtu Dene/Metis people within the larger Canadian mosaic.”

Premier R.J. Simpson was also happy to hear the news, saying “Granting assent to this Act marks an important moment for the Tłegǫ́hłı̨ Got’įnę and for the Northwest Territories. It reinforces a future where decisions are made closer to home and where communities have the tools they need to shape their own path.”

Simpson called this development “reconciliation in action,” and that the GNWT remains committed to working together with the Tłegǫ́hłı̨ Got’įnę for generations to come.

The Act will come into force on the effective date set out in the Final Self‑Government Agreement.