Gwich'in Self-Government Negotiations
EXECUTIVE RESPONSIBLE
The President is the Executive Member Responsible for the Self-Government portfolio.
Negotiations Mandate
The purpose of the self-government negotiations mandate is for the Gwich’in Tribal Council Board of Directors to provide the Gwich’in self-government negotiations team with the principles that will guide them as they negotiate a final self-government agreement with Canada and the Government of the Northwest Territories (the “GNWT”).
Background
The obligation to negotiate a self-government agreement arises out of Chapter 5 of the Gwich’in Comprehensive Land Claims Agreement (the “GCLCA”).
5.1.1 Government shall enter into negotiations with the Gwich’in with a view to concluding agreements on self-government appropriate to the unique circumstances of the Gwich’in and in conformity with the Constitution of Canada.
Aside from our obligation to negotiate, we want to negotiate in order to gain more control over our own internal affairs. Our right to control our own affairs is an inherent right and through negotiations with government, we strive to ensure that our inherent right of self-government is expressed in any final self-government agreement.
Our Mission
Our mission is to assert and implement our inherent right to govern ourselves and to continue to survive as Gwich’in according to our traditions, language and culture.
What’s New
Our self-government department has been going through a number of changes the last year, with Government of Canada cuts to all self-government negotiation programs. With a new Senior Negotiator and less staffing in our Inuvik office, and no Community Coordinators in Inuvik, Fort McPherson, Tsiigehtchic and Aklavik.
GTC has been lobbying the Federal Government and requesting our funding be increased to help us negotiate an agreement that’s best for our people. In December 2008 our President Richard Nerysoo and the COO Melody Nice-Paul went to Ottawa to meet with the Minister and to express our concerns regarding funding.
They expressed our concerns to hire more people to get research done we need to hire professionals, lawyers, consultant’s, that will help us achieve our goals. We need to hire our community coordinators to help us get the work done and to communicate to our people. We need the people to know we are working and again, we are looking to get the best deal we can for our people. We still haven’t heard back from the Minister.
Our department has met with other aboriginal groups that have already achieved their self-government agreements and we are learning from these groups and taking all this information and working with it. We are finding out what hasn’t been working for them and seeing what direction we should take to ensure we don’t have the same problems.
We have been taking a new step with negotiations and have set up a “Chief’s Side-Table”. This side-table derived from the Government of Canada wanting to dissolve our four Chief and Band Council’s. The Chief’s have been dealing with the Federal Government and trying to protect the Treaty Issues and Indian Act, making sure these are not taken away from the people. The Chief’s want to make sure no programs and services that are related to both the Treaty 11 and the Indian Act are not taken away from the people.
If you have any questions regarding Self-Government, call our office and speak with Joe Jack the Senior Negotiator or Mavis Clark and we will do our best to explain what has been happening over the last quarter.
You could even talk to your community Leaders DGO Presidents, Chief’s, Sub-Chief’s or your Elders Reps. If they can’t help you, we will be available.
Hai Hai!! Mahsi Cho!!
Gwich’in Negotiating Team
GTC
- Joe Jack, Senior Negotiator, 867-777-7941
- Mavis Clark, Regional Coordinator, 867-777-7942
Gwichya Gwich’in Council
- Phillip Blake, President
Arctic Red River Indian Band
- Frederick Blake Jr., Chief
- Douglas Kendo, Acting Sub-Chief
Tetlit Gwich’in Council / Fort McPherson Indian Band
- Wilbert Firth, President/Chief
Ehdiitat Gwich’in Council
- Charlie Furlong, President
- Eliza Greenland, Elders Representative
Aklavik Indian Band
- Chief Mildred Edwards
Nihtat Gwich’in Council / Inuvik Indian band
- Herbert Blake, Jr., President/Chief
- Diane Baxter, Sub-Chief
