The Yellowknives Dene First Nation and the Tłı̨chǫ Government have jointly announced an agreement on the designated site for the Arctic Economic and Security Corridor. The proposed 400-kilometre all-season road will link the Grays Bay Road and Port in Nunavut to the N.W.T. highway system. This initiative, classified as one of the “nation-building projects,” aims to enhance military presence and mineral exploration in Northern Canada. Additionally, it will offer year-round road access to Wekweètì and Gamètì in the N.W.T.
The leadership of the Yellowknives Dene First Nation and the Tłı̨chǫ Government, in collaboration with territorial and federal authorities, is spearheading this project. Tłı̨chǫ Grand Chief Jackson Lafferty expressed enthusiasm, stating, “It is exciting to show Canada how we can lead and design major projects as Indigenous nations.”
The proposed corridor, approximately 30 kilometres wide, traverses the Slave Geological Province. Leaders have emphasized that this corridor marks the initial phase of the project. Both Chief Ernest Betsina and Chief Fred Sangris of the Yellowknives Dene First Nation stated, “This is a proposed corridor, not a final road, and that matters.”
Besides its potential for mineral exploration, the area serves as a critical caribou habitat and migration route. Both nations have underlined their commitment to minimizing the impact on the caribou population with the proposed corridor’s design.
The culmination of this consensus followed over a year of collaboration. Drawing on community-led studies, traditional knowledge, and Western science, the two nations highlighted that while they have reached an agreement, the corridor might not have been the chosen path individually.
Premier R.J. Simpson has expressed the government of the Northwest Territories’ support for the consensus reached by the two nations and their dedication to collaborative efforts. Simpson emphasized the significance of Indigenous-led development and government-to-government partnerships for future projects in the Northwest Territories.
Upon completion, the corridor will establish Canada’s first land-based connection to Nunavut’s Arctic coast. The Tłı̨chǫ Government and Yellowknives Dene First Nation will invite their members, neighboring Indigenous governments, and community members to provide feedback on the proposed route for further input and shaping of the project’s future direction.