A government autonomy agreement celebrated in Norman Wells

This week, the government of Tłegǫentshłı̨ Got’įnę, in Norman Wells in the Northwest Territories (TN-O.), marks the ratification of an autonomy agreement with several activities.

The road to this point was long.

She started when theAgreement on the overall territorial demand for the dene and mestis of the Sahtú was signed, In 1993, which laid the foundations to negotiate government autonomy.

Since then, the Tłegǫentshłı̨ Got’įnę government, which was previously known as Norman Wells Land Corporation, concluded an agreement protocol in 2007, then an agreement in principle in 2019.

Finally, in November 2024, the Government of the Northwest Territories (GTNO), the Federal Government and Tłegǫentshłı̨ Got’įnę approved an agreement on the autonomy of the latter. Everything culminated in March, when the members ratified the document.

Now it’s time for celebration.

The festivities will start on Thursday and continue until the weekend. On the program: drum dances, meals, games, music and a golf tournament.

The implementation

The Gtno And the federal government must now transpose this agreement into the law. Once this step has been taken, a year of transition will be necessary.

Aboriginal communities of T.N.-O. have been trying for decades to reach government autonomy for decades. In 2003, the Tłı̨chǫ nation, which had four communities, was the first to sign such an agreement (in combination with territorial claims).

Communities in the Sahtú region (donation Fort Good Hope, Norman WellsTulita, Délı̨nę and Colville Lake) all started talks in order to reach this coveted autonomy.

In 2016, the Delı̨nę community became the first to benefit from local government autonomy in the Northwest Territories. It was also the first in the country to combine the structures of public and indigenous governments.

Due to the demography of Norman Wellsthe Government Tłegǫentshłı̨ Got’įnę will not replace the municipal government when it entered into force. He will rather be recognized as an indigenous government exclusive.

According to the government autonomy agreement, 70 % of the members of the community must adhere to the Tłegǫentshłı̨ Got’įnę before it became a public government. He can apply before reaching this threshold, but he will need the consent of the Gtno and federal government.

This agreement also describes the relationship between the municipal government and the new Aboriginal government.

It provides in particular the creation of a mixed committee made up of representatives of the two entities so that they discuss the way in which The rights of the Tłegǫentshłı̨ Got’įn į can be taken into account and respected by the City when it draws up policies and adopts regulations.

Pour Danny McNeelyMP for Sahtú, the implementation of the agreement is the real challenge.

The responsibility of an autonomous government is enormous.

He underlines the remarkable advances carried out by the Government of Délı̨nę in terms of infrastructure and education since it has obtained its autonomy.

This really shows what government autonomy can accomplish.

The skills of the new government

When it comes into office, the Tłegǫentshłı̨ Got’įnęnę government will assume responsibility for education, language and culture, social services and governance of its members. It will have the power to legislate, regardless of the approval of the territorial or federal government.

The understanding also includes the ability to enforce the laws of Tłegǫentshłı̨ Got’įnę by the application of sanctions, extrajudicial measures and the hiring of agents responsible for the application of the law.

However, it will not have the power to create a police force or regulate the use of firearms, as this is the case with the criminal code.

As for the education of its members, the new government will be able to develop its own study program, in addition to establishing the requirements to obtain its secondary school diploma. The agreement specifies, however, that this regulation must comply with the educational standards of the territory.

The new government has a structure that combines a modern and traditional policy. Citizens will elect a president who will have to reside at Norman Wells. He will lead a government for a council of five to nine members.

The Legislative Council may appoint from three to five individuals to a justice council, as well as appoint people to an executive committee.

With information from Jocelyn Shepel