Yellowknife (June 13-14, 2023) – Indigenous leaders and leaders from the Government of the Northwest Territories (GNWT) gathered for the Northwest Territories Council of Leaders (NWTCOL) meeting on June 13 and 14, 2023 in Yellowknife, NT. 

Leaders discussed a range of NWT-wide issues of mutual interest related to social and economic issues, including:

• Health in the NWT including the federally announced Indigenous Health Equity fund and collaboration to ensure it is maximized for Indigenous Northerners, and challenges with the federal funding of Non-Insured Health Benefits

• Mental Health and Addictions and prevention and mitigation of illegal drugs and collaboration to address these issues;

• Development of the NWT Housing Forum;

• Caribou Management issues;

• Climate Change;

• Economy and Cost of Living; and

• Arctic and Northern Policy Framework

The NWTCOL forum offers members the opportunity to discuss territory-wide social, environmental, and economic issues that are of interest to all member governments and work towards solutions.

The NWTCOL continues to be a productive forum and an example of meaningful partnership between the Indigenous and GNWT leaders, consistent with the principles of reconciliation.

The meeting was chaired by Ɂekw’ahtı̨dǝ́ Danny Gaudet of Délı̨nę Got’ı̨nę Government.

Leaders attending the meeting included:

• Chief Eugene Hope, Acho Dene Koe First Nation
• Leonard Kenny, Délı̨nę Got’ı̨nę Government
• Gina Dolphus, Délı̨nę K’aowǝdó Kǝ Member, Délı̨nę Got’ı̨nę Government
• Chair Duane (Ningaqsiq) Smith (Anisaluk), Inuvialuit Regional Corporation
• Chief April Martel, Ká tł’odeeche First Nation
• Chief Steve Vital, Nahanni Butte Dene Band
• Councillor Eric Matou, Nahanni Butte Dene Band
• President Marc Whitford, North Slave Métis Alliance
• Councillor Kendra Bourke, Salt River First Nation
• Councillor Don Beaulieu, Salt River First Nation
• Councillor Freda Emile, Salt River First Nation
• Councillor Warren Sikyea, Salt River First Nation 
• Chair Charles McNeely, Sahtu Secretariat Incorporated
• Vice-Chairperson Edwin Erutse, Sahtu Secretariat Incorporated
• Grand Chief Wilbert Kochon, Sahtu Dene Council
• Grand Chief Jackson Lafferty, Tłı̨chǫ Government
• Chief Clifford Daniels, Tłı̨chǫ Government
• Chief Alfonz Nitsiza, Tłı̨chǫ Government
• Chief Doreen Arrowmaker, Tłı̨chǫ Government 
• Chief Adeline Football, Tłı̨chǫ Government 
• Premier Caroline Cochrane
• Minister Diane Archie, Deputy Premier, Infrastructure
• Minister Caroline Wawzonek, Industry, Tourism, and Investment; Finance
• Minister Julie Green, Health and Social Services
• Minister Paulie Chinna, Housing NWT 
• Minister Shane Thompson, Environment and Climate Change; Municipal and Community Affairs
• Minister R.J. Simpson, Justice; Education, Culture and Employment