The Yellowknives Dene First Nation and the Tłı̨chǫ Government have jointly agreed on the designated site for the Arctic Economic and Security Corridor. This initiative involves constructing a 400-kilometre all-season road connecting the Grays Bay Road and Port in Nunavut with the N.W.T. highway system. The project, categorized as one of the nation-building endeavors, aims to enhance military presence and mineral exploration in Northern Canada while granting year-round road access to Wekweètì and Gamètì in the N.W.T.
Led by the Yellowknives Dene First Nation and the Tłı̨chǫ Government in collaboration with territorial and federal authorities, the endeavor signifies a significant milestone in Indigenous-led project design and leadership, as stated by Tłı̨chǫ Grand Chief Jackson Lafferty. The planned corridor spans approximately 30 kilometres wide, traversing the Slave Geological Province, with an emphasis placed on its preliminary nature.
Acknowledging the importance of mitigating impacts on the caribou habitat and migration routes within the area, both nations stressed the careful consideration given to minimizing disruption to the caribou population. Despite the year-long consensus-building process drawing on various sources of knowledge, including community-led studies, traditional wisdom, and Western scientific insights, the nations admitted that the agreed-upon corridor was a result of collaborative efforts not independently pursued by either party.
Premier R.J. Simpson expressed the Northwest Territories government’s respect for the consensus achieved by the Yellowknives Dene First Nation and the Tłı̨chǫ Government, emphasizing the commitment to collaborative engagement. The Premier highlighted the significance of Indigenous-led development and government-to-government partnerships, underscoring their pivotal role in advancing major undertakings and shaping the future of the Northwest Territories.
Upon completion, the corridor will establish Canada’s inaugural land-based connection to Nunavut’s Arctic coast. Subsequently, the Tłı̨chǫ Government and Yellowknives Dene First Nation will facilitate opportunities for their members, neighboring Indigenous entities, and community stakeholders to provide feedback on the proposed route, informing the subsequent steps of this transformative project.