2nd Intergovernmental Meeting between Salt River First Nation and GNWT

News Releases

YELLOWKNIFE (November 18, 2016) – Cabinet Members of the 18th Legislative Assembly, Premier Bob McLeod and Minister Louis Sebert met with the Salt River First Nation, Chief Frieda Martselos and Council Members in Yellowknife the morning of November 16. 

This was the second meeting of the Salt River First Nation (SRFN) and the Government of the Northwest Territories (GNWT) since they signed the Intergovernmental Memorandum of Understanding on August 25, 2015. 

Premier McLeod and Chief Martselos agreed that the intergovernmental meeting was a success; it provided an opportunity to have open and frank discussions on issues that impact the SRFN.  These meetings are integral to building their government-to-government relationship with one another.

The meeting focused on areas of mutual interest, including:

  • The planning of SRFN’s Community & Cultural Facility in Fort Smith and its positive impacts for the community.
  • Potential housing for SRFN Members in Fort Smith.
  • The GNWT’s contracting and procurement process.
  • The Regional Recruitment Program and the Affirmative Action Policy.
  • Barren-ground and Boreal caribou management.
  • Aboriginal Head Start and the Junior Kindergarten Programs in Fort Smith.
  • Working collaboratively to clarify the Wildlife Act/Trespass bylaw on Reserve.
  • The SRFN having input on planning for the Canada 150 Years celebration & Truth and Reconciliation Commission Activities.

The GNWT also provided the SRFN an update on the following matters:

  • The current GNWT fiscal situation.
  • The HSS System Transformation.
  • The revision of the Aboriginal languages framework and Action Plan; and the amalgamation of the Official Languages Board and the Aboriginal Language Revitalization Board.
  • Federal/Provincial/Territorial Meetings that have occurred recently.

Quick Facts

  • Strengthening relationships with Aboriginal governments is a priority of the 18th Legislative Assembly. 
  • The Intergovernmental Memorandum of Understanding recognizes the importance of the government-to-government relationship between the Salt River First Nation and the GNWT.
  • The agreement commits both governments to meet at least once a year.

For more information, contact:

Andrew Livingstone
Senior Cabinet Communications Advisor
Government of the Northwest Territories
867-767-9140 ext.  11091     

                                                                                               

Allen Stanzell
Chief Executive Officer
Salt River First Nation
867-872-2986