YELLOWKNIFE (February 28, 2013) – Premier Bob McLeod and Grand Chief Eddie Erasmus announced today that the  Tłįchǫ Government will become a party  to the Devolution Agreement-in-Principle.

“Devolution will create benefits for all the people of the Northwest Territories, I’m very pleased that the Tłıcho Government will be joining us in signing the final agreement,” said Premier McLeod. “Gaining northern control over our public lands and resources has been a long-held objective for the people of the Northwest Territories. With devolution in place, the people of the Northwest Territories will be able to make the decisions about how to protect our environment and manage and develop public lands according to Northern priorities and principles.”

Grand Chief Eddie Erasmus said, "the decision to sign the Agreement-in-Principle is ours, and ours alone.  This decision was made after careful work and consideration by our government.  We want to ensure that the implementation of the Devolution Final Agreement respects the Tłıcho Agreement.  We are looking forward to working with all the parties to the agreement."

With today’s announcement, the  Tłıcho Government joins the Inuvialuit Regional Corporation, NWT Métis Nation, Sahtu Secretariat Incorporated and Gwich’in Tribal Council as parties to devolution along with the Governments of Canada and the Northwest Territories.

The  Tłıcho Government will formally sign the Devolution Agreement-in-Principle at a signing ceremony in Behchokö on March 8, 2013.

For more information:
Brenda Norris
Media Liaison
Office of the Premier/Cabinet
Government of the Northwest Territories
Tel: 867-669-2302
Email: brenda_norris@gov.nt.ca

Marjorie Matheson Maund
Implementation Facilitator
Tłįchǫ Government
Tel: 867-766-4003