Politics

Culture, Featured, News, Politics, Reconciliation November 19, 2024

Tłegǫ́hłı̨ Got’įnę, GNWT and Ottawa initial draft of final self-government agreement

Significant milestone for Sahtu Dene and Métis of Norman Wells is a 'crucial step in moving beyond colonial systems of governance, says fed minister


Negotiators in Ottawa for the Tłegǫ́hłı̨ Got’įnę Government Inc., the GNWT, and Canada have initialled the draft final self-government agreement for the Tłegǫ́hłı̨ Got’įnę in Ottawa. Proponents stated this significant milestone demonstrates progress for the the Sahtu Dene and Métis of Norman Wells, moving toward self-government and charting their own…

Culture, Environment, Featured, News, Politics, Reconciliation, Weather November 15, 2024

A $375M generational plan for Indigenous-led conservation, stewardship and economic development across the NWT

'We will take care of the land, the water, the animals, the plant life, and also take care of our communities and our people,' says Tłı̨chǫ Grand Chief Jackson Lafferty


Drummers, woodsmoke and dancing helped usher in an historic $375 million agreement in Behchokǫ̀ that will fund Indigenous-led conservation, stewardship, and economic development across the Northwest Territories. Known as NWT: Our Land for the Future, one of the largest Indigenous-led land conservation initiatives in the world promises to create transformative…

Environment, Featured, News, Politics, Reconciliation, Wildfires November 14, 2024

‘Who’s helping us to recover, emotionally, physically, spiritually, in all ways?’

Raw emotions on display from Behchokǫ̀ residents at after-action review open house of 2023 wildfire emergency response


Forty people gathered at tables in a school gymnasium in Behchokǫ̀ on Wednesday night, sharing stories of resilience, confusion and anger over the 2023 wildfire season. Repeated themes were the absent, slow or confusing communications from the GNWT, and a lack of help for evacuees when returning home after 10…

Environment, Featured, News, Politics, Reconciliation November 12, 2024

Massive $375M Indigenous-led conservation partnership set to be signed in Behchokǫ̀

Project Finance for Permanence to create long-term protection and stewardship of lands and waters across the NWT


One of the largest Indigenous-led land conservation initiatives in the world is set to be celebrated on Thursday in Behchokǫ̀, with $375 million in funding from various sources. This work, occurring under the name Northwest Territories Project Finance for Permanence (NWT PFP) brings governments and the philanthropic community together to…

Featured, News, Politics, Reconciliation November 11, 2024

Team working on Dehcho Process question having to deal with GNWT

'It's really difficult dealing with them … the territorial government,’ says Dehcho First Nations Grand Chief Herb Norwegian


The territorial government is being blamed for delaying a process that would provide the Dehcho people with control over 50,000 square kilometres of surface and subsurface lands hugging the Mackenzie River, creating a new jurisdiction called Dehcho Ndehe. In a virtual town hall last week, the Dehcho Process negotiating team…

Featured, News, Politics October 31, 2024

A spooky serenade for Premier Simpson and cabinet, plus a few other scary stories

Booze prices spike in Inuvik, proposed power rate hike is shocking, and a new GNWT division is born


Marking Halloween in a musical manner in the NWT Assembly today, one MLA offered a song for Premier RJ Simpson and his cabinet, sung to the tune of the Addams Family theme song. Yellowknife Centre’s Robert Hawkins also addressed Speaker Shane Thompson “Mr. Spooker,” instead of the customary Mr. Speaker….

Featured, Health, News, Politics October 30, 2024

Could a similar Stanton Renewal Project debacle happen again?

'Northerners have been saddled with hundreds of millions of dollars of debt for the next 30 years,' says MLA Kieron Testart


Yesterday’s bombshell report from the Auditor General of Canada showing the territorial government was oblivious to a hospital renewal contract that swelled 62-per-cent over-budget to more than $1.2 billion, drew some expected reaction in the NWT Assembly today. Range Lake MLA Kieron Testart was in the 18th Legislative Assembly in…

Featured, Health, News, Politics October 29, 2024

Old Stanton hospital renewal a pain in the wallet for taxpayers, says Auditor General of Canada

The GNWT and health authority 'could not show the project provided good value for money on behalf of the residents of the Northwest Territories,' reads report


The actual and projected costs over the 30-year life of the Stanton hospital renewal project have ballooned by 62-per-cent to more than $1.2 billion. The Office of the Auditor General of Canada found taxpayers did “not get good value” for their money with the project that saw a new $315…

Featured, News, Politics, Transportation, Weather October 24, 2024

NWT public servants’ morale ‘at rock bottom,’ says MLA and former union leader

Great Slave MLA Kate Reid says relentless cost-cutting chatter by cabinet adds to the stress felt by of workers


Morale among unionized GNWT employees is “at rock bottom,” with many feeling stuck within a hierarchy that expects unthinking loyalty, but does not reward creativity, an MLA and former union leader told the NWT Assembly today. Great Slave MLA Kate Reid pointed to the results of the 2023 employee engagement…

Featured, Health, News, Politics October 23, 2024

Going off the deep end arguing for a new all-season pool for Behchokǫ̀

Tłı̨chǫ residents shouldn't have to drive to Yellowknife to have healthy family recreation, says MLA Jane Weyallon Armstrong


A swimming pool is needed to serve the four Tłı̨chǫ communities to provide family recreation and employment opportunities, says Monfwi MLA Jane Weyallon Armstrong. She floated several proposals to two different cabinet ministers today in the NWT Assembly, but their answers left her feeling high and dry. “I can tell…