After returning from a trip to Ottawa last week, Premier RJ Simpson says that as “live” talks continue on nation building projects like the Arctic Security Corridor, the territory has an important role to play in showing other parts of the country what meaningful collaboration with Indigenous Nations can look like.
“I wanted to let them know too in southern Canada, that’s how we actually work up in the north. It is an Indigenous territory and the Indigenous peoples aren’t an after-thought, they are the owners of the land,” said Premier Simpson.
Premier Simposn and Minister Caroline Wawzonek were in Ottawa last week for a series of meetings and event to spotlight “ Northern issues” as integral to the national agenda.
“I think there’s lessons for the rest of Canada as well because they’re looking at advancing some of these major projects, they’re going to need to work with the Indigenous groups,” the premier told True North FM.
During the trip to Ottawa, the premier and the minister joined discussions with federal representatives, Minister François-Philippe Champagne, minister of Finance, Minister David McGuinty, minister of National Defence, Minister Rebecca Chartrand, minister of Northern and Arctic Affairs, Minister Tim Hodgson, minister of Natural Resources and NWT MP and Minister Rebecca Alty, minister of Crown Indigenous Relations
The premier said that nation-building infrastructure projects such as the Taltson Hydro Expansion, Mackenzie Valley Highway, the Arctic Security Corridor, advancing land claims and self-government agreements were among the focus areas of discussion.
While there are no new updates on the Arctic Security Corridor, Premier Simpson said that there is active communication between the territorial and federal governments regarding last week’s announcement on nation building projects. “It’s really exciting times for defence in the North right now,” said Premier Simpson.
The premier and the minister concluded the week by meeting with Minister Rebecca Alty, as both the minister of Indigenous Crown Relations and as the MP.
That meeting consisted of a “good discussion about moving forward with land claims” and also touched base with her about some of the main highlights of the Ottawa visit, said the premier.
Earlier in March, the Honourable Bill Blair, the then Minister of National Defence announced that the city of Yellowknife, along with Iqaluit and Inuvik would be the Northern Operational Support Hub locations.
The federal government announced an investment of $2.67 billion over 20 years to establish the network of Northern Operational Support Hubs. The hubs are geared towards increasing the Canadian Armed Forces’ presence and responsiveness across the North.
The federal government had stated a commitment to work closely with the territorial governments and local Northern and Indigenous partners through deliberate, dedicated engagements.
In March, Premier Simpson stressed the role of economic security to protecting and strengthening the communities situated in the far North.
When it comes to developments on major projects like the Arctic Security Corridor, the premier said that consultations with Indigenous communities remains ongoing.
“Where we are with this project is that for many, many years, the GNWT had a route that it wanted to follow and it was just advancing that route, but this government, we said, We really need to take a step back and work with the Indigenous peoples whose land this road will be on from the beginning. And so we went and we had meetings with the Yellowknives Dene and the Tłı̨chǫ government about their involvement in this project, and potentially them being the proponents and the ones actually advancing this. We’re not looking at doing any consultation after the fact. We are working with the Indigenous people from the beginning of that project,” said the premier.
The Tłı̨chǫ government confirmed in a public meeting earlier this year that they are in talks with the GNWT and the federal government over potential projects in the North. True North FM reached out to the Yellowknives Dene Nation, but has not received a response as yet.
The GNWT leader said he wanted to make that message clear with the federal government and other jurisdictions in the country.
“I wanted to let them know, too in southern Canada, that’s how we actually work up in the north. It is an Indigenous territory and the Indigenous peoples aren’t an afterthought, they are the owners of the land,” said Premier Simpson.
“And so we need to make sure that we work. In a way that recognizes that, but I think there’s lessons for the rest of Canada as well because they’re looking at advancing some of these major projects, they’re going to need to work with the Indigenous groups,” he added.
The Premier asserted that because land in the N.W.T. is covered by a land claim, things are “different” there than the rest of the country.
“The federal government is already trying to advance self-determination and Reconciliation through that process and we’re part of that process as well.”
About half of the population in the N.W.T. is Indigenous, and that influences every aspect of decision-making and actions taken, from policy to practice.
“We are an Indigenous territory and everything we do has an Indigenous lens on it so when it comes to the education system, the justice system, the social services system – we’re always thinking what would help me best serve our clientele who are primarily Indigenous. So, reconciliation is not an afterthought here. It’s not something we apply after something is ‘fully baked.’ It is what we do from the very beginning of the process, especially considering that the majority of legislators have always been Indigenous in the territory.”
The premier pointed out that the territory is a distinct place where things are done differently than the rest of the country.
“So I think we do things that the rest of Canada doesn’t do. And we are probably many, many years, maybe generations ahead of the rest of Canada when it comes to that. “
The Premier also acknowledged that the GNWT is also a place where colonialism has had devastating impacts on the Indigenous communities here going back multiple generations.
“We have such a long and deep history with colonialism up here.”
On a per capita basis, more people in the NWT attended residential school than anywhere else in Canada.
“We’re still continuously dealing with those impacts, and you can see them day-to-day. That’s why at the legislative assembly, one of our priorities as an assembly is to address the impact of trauma because I can see how that is affecting us every single day in every community in the territory.”
Balancing needs with “few” resources has always been challenging for communities and leadership across the far North, noted the premier.
Premier Simpson pointed to some of the ways that Indigenous governments and GNWT leadership are trying to work side by side.
“I think (that) is how we’re going to make progress and if you look at the N.W.T. Council of Leaders, that’s a table where we all sit down, all the Indigenous governments and the cabinet sit down as equals and try and figure those issues out. And then we have our bilateral agreements with Indigenous governments, where we try to address those specific issues in those specific regions, but because the need is so high. There’s a lot more work to be done, but we’re definitely putting our minds to it.”
