YELLOWKNIFE (April 26, 2016) – Premier Bob McLeod, Grand Chief Eddie Erasmus and Members of the Executive Councils of the Tłįchǫ Government and the 18^th Legislative Assembly met together April 21 as agreed to in ‘Working Together – the Tłįchǫ Government/Government of the Northwest Territories Intergovernmental Memorandum of Understanding’(Working Together).

This is the first intergovernmental meeting between the two governments since the start of the 18^th Legislative Assembly. The Government of the Northwest Territories (GNWT) and the Tłįchǫ Government are committed to developing collaborative approaches to issues facing Tłįchǫ Citizens and fostering a strong government-to-government relationship.

Premier McLeod and Grand Chief Erasmus both agreed that the bilateral meetings provide an opportunity for both governments to work together to achieve greater understanding and develop solutions to issues that their governments face.

The meeting focused on areas of mutual interest, including:

• The GNWT provided an update on its fiscal situation
• The Tłįchǫ Government advised of their position on the Transboundary Water Management Intergovernmental Agreement
• Discussion occurred on the Tłįchǫ All-Season Road
• The importance of language and culture was discussed, and how this ties into Early Childhood Development
• The Economic Measures Review as required in Chapter 26 of the Tłįchǫ Agreement was discussed
• The GNWT committed to provide  ongoing funding for the adequate operation of both phases of the Jimmy Erasmus Senior Home
• The Tłįchǫ Government and GNWT discussed the benefits of establishing a Joint Working Group on Housing
• A collaborative approach to communications on caribou management was discussed
• The GNWT provided updates on Federal/Provincial/Territorial Meetings which included Climate Change, Aboriginal Affairs Working Group and Violence against women and girls
• The GNWT Affirmative Action Statistics and Hiring Practices were also discussed

Working Together recognizes the importance of the government-to-government relationship between the Tłįchǫ Government and the GNWT. This was the sixth meeting between the two governments since it was initially signed in June 2012. It commits both governments to meet twice per year.