The Yellowknives Dene First Nation and the Tłı̨chǫ government have jointly agreed on the designated site for the Arctic Economic and Security Corridor, as announced on Saturday. This corridor is a proposed 400-kilometre all-season road that will link the Grays Bay Road and Port in Nunavut to the N.W.T. highway system. It is part of the nation-building projects aimed at enhancing military presence and mineral exploration in Northern Canada, with potential additional spur roads connecting Wekweètì and Gamètì to the main route.
Led by the Yellowknives Dene First Nation and the Tłı̨chǫ government, in collaboration with territorial and federal authorities, this significant project showcases Indigenous leadership in major project planning and execution, as highlighted by Tłı̨chǫ Grand Chief Jackson Lafferty.
The proposed corridor, approximately 30 kilometers wide, traverses the Slave Geological Province. Leaders stress that this corridor is just the initial phase of the project and not the final road. Both Yellowknives Dene First Nation Chief Ernest Betsina and Chief Fred Sangris emphasize that the corridor’s design aims to minimize impacts on the caribou population, as it intersects with caribou habitat and migration routes.
After more than a year of collaboration, the two nations reached a consensus based on community-led studies, traditional knowledge, and Western science. While acknowledging that the chosen corridor might not have been their individual preference, they expressed mutual respect for the agreement. Premier R.J. Simpson affirmed the government of the Northwest Territories’ commitment to supporting the two Nations in their endeavor.
Premier Simpson emphasized the significance of Indigenous-led development and government-to-government partnerships, noting its broader implications for the future of the Northwest Territories. Upon completion, the corridor will serve as Canada’s first land-based connection to Nunavut’s Arctic coast. The Tłı̨chǫ government and Yellowknives Dene First Nation intend to engage their members, neighboring Indigenous communities, and local residents to gather feedback on the proposed route, shaping the direction of the project moving forward.
