Canada Signs ‘Historic’ Deal With Inuvialuit, NWT, and Yukon Governments

Canada’s Minister of Northern Affairs Dan Vandal, Inuvialuit Regional Corporation (IRC) Chair Duane Ningaqsiq Smith, and the Premiers of the Yukon and the Northwest Territories all gathered in Inuvik, NWT, on Thursday to sign a one-of-a-kind agreement.

The Western Arctic-Tariuq (offshore) Accord is referred to as “historic” in a press release issued on Thursday. It is the first agreement of its type to include an Indigenous government as a full collaborator.

The agreement’s stated goal is to ensure that the Inuvialuit, together with Yukon and Northwest Territories’ communities, have a voice in the governance of any offshore development of petroleum resources and are the primary recipients of any financial benefits.

“This is a very significant day,” Ningaqsiq Smith said at the signing event in Inuvik, stating that this agreement has been discussed for many years in the past.

“It’s been a long time coming, and I think everybody has made compromises and reached an understanding in how to move forward.”

Premier of the Northwest Territories Caroline Cochrane stated her government “came on board” after waiting for the IRC to sign the deal.

“This accord will hopefully guarantee, once it’s in legislation, that nothing will be decided about offshore in the Northwest Territories without us being at the table and agreeing in a consensus style,” she said.

The Premier of the Yukon, Ranj Pillai, said there are multiple ways in which the agreement will protect the area.

“We know how sensitive things are there, not just from an environmental standpoint, but the more activity in the North when we think about Arctic sovereignty,” said Pillai said.

The IRC received $2.5 million over a five-year period in the 2022 federal budget to aid in the implementation and administration of the agreement.