November 29, 2024 — Ottawa, Ontario — The Athabasca Denesųłiné, Ghotelnene K’odtįneh Dene, the Government of Nunavut, the Government of the Northwest Territories, and Crown-Indigenous Relations and Northern Affairs Canada

The Athabasca Denesųłiné (AD) and Ghotelnene K’odtįneh Dene (GKD), along with the governments of Nunavut, the Northwest Territories, and Canada are marking an important step toward renewing their Nation-to-Nation relationships. All parties have initialled the respective land claim agreements—the Athabasca Denesųłiné Agreement and the Ghotelnene K’odtįneh Dene Agreement—showing progress in implementing the AD and GKD’s visions of a better future for their communities.

The AD and GKD are beginning community ratification to ask eligible voters to approve their respective agreements. If successfully ratified by all parties, including the passing of federal legislation, the two agreements will constitutionally protect and address harvesting, land ownership, resource management, and other rights and benefits of the AD and GKD in their respective agreement areas within the existing boundaries of Nunavut and the Northwest Territories. GKD and AD have shared Nuh Nene and Nuhenéné, respectively, with the barren-ground caribou herds, and their culture, history, economy, way of life, and overall well-being are tied to the movement and health of these herds.

We look forward to finalizing this important work and seeing the positive change these historic agreements will have for the members of the Athabasca Denesųłiné and Ghotelnene K’odtįneh Dene.