Gwich’in Nation faces ‘important matters’ that require collective attention

Governance issues continue to trip up the Gwich’in Tribal Council, which this week saw its major annual gathering postponed after quorum was not met, this followed a walkout of several delegates from two regional groups.

Ongoing legal and financial concerns remain both on the ground in the Beaufort Delta, as well as in NWT Supreme Court, after Gwich’in member councils from Inuvik and Aklavik took Grand Chief Frederick Blake Jr. to court after his election in the summer of 2024.

This week in Teetł’it Zheh/Fort Macpherson was supposed to start with a two-day Special Assembly, followed by a three-day Annual General Assembly.

But, for the second time in a month, the event had to be postponed. A re-scheduled date has not been announced.

The Special Assembly, stated a release form the GTC, could not proceed because not enough members were present to form a quorum. Why?

The issue that arose was a governance matter concerning voting delegates.

GTC by-laws call for Designated Gwich’in Organizations to notify the governing body of who their delegates are, “at least 14 days before the Assembly, which did not occur,” stated Grand Chief Blake in his release.

“A lengthy discussion ensued,” stated Grand Chief Blake. “It was determined that two delegates could not participate and vote, based on the by-law details, but it was stated that they would be able to observe the Special Assembly as Gwich’in Participants. They decided not to observe the proceedings.”

After the decision, two of the four Designated Gwich’in Organizations left the Special Assembly.

Based on the rules of the Assembly and the advice of Elders in attendance, the Special Assembly continued, resulting in completion of setting the agenda and resolutions.

Then, as the GTC by-laws requires a majority of Gwich’in Participant delegates to meet the quorum to call the Assembly to start, the entire event had to be postponed.

On the first day, CKLB had requested a link to monitor the proceedings, but was denied, told it was for Gwich’in Participants.

Media are routinely allowed to cover similar events by other Indigenous governments in the NWT.

In the third release issued Friday, two Designated Gwich’in Organizations backed the Grand Chief’s plan to meet in lnuvik next week. to begin planning a broader leadership retreat, “with Elders involved, focused on rebuilding trust, strengthening dialogue and finding a constructive path forward.”

”There have been difficult issues and disagreements, but our focus now needs to be on what comes next,” said Ehdiitat Gwich’in President Mike Greenland. ”Our people expect their leaders to sit together, listen to one another and find a way forward. We look forward to meeting in lnuvik in good faith and working toward what is best for the Gwich’in Nation.”

The GTC held meetings in 2025, including in February 2025 in Edmonton that later became the subject of an internal governance legal disputes, as other Gwich’in councils later declared it an “improper takeover.”

The Gwich’in Tribal Council is primarily self-funded through its own corporate investments and capital transfers, alongside occasional federal government grants and program-specific cash.

Gwich’in Settlement Corporation manages the capital settlement funds in excess of $139 million received from the Government of Canada under the 1992 Gwich’in Comprehensive Land Claim Agreement.

It provides annual financial distributions and interest earnings directly to the GTC and community organizations.

Gwich’in Development Corporation is the business arm, intended to generate commercial and economic revenue to supports Gwich’in operations and community development.

In the past five years, the Development Corporation has focused on “economic rebuilding, infrastructure projects, joint ventures, and forecasting a return to profitability,” states its materials.

For example, it assumed the road access construction for the Inuvik Wind Project, and participated in the ongoing Mike Zubko Airport airstrip extension project through the Delta North Alliance, a 50-50 joint venture between the Corp. and the Inuvialuit Development Corporation.

Grand Chief Blake is the former Mackenzie Delta MLA and recently served as the Speaker of the Legislative Assembly in the 19^th assembly.