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Career, Economic & Education
Tłıc̨hǫ Government Earns Indigenous Achievement MAX Award 2022

Mining and Exploration (MAX) Awards 2022 Indigenous Achievement Award – Tłıc̨hǫ Government

The Indigenous Achievement Award celebrates and recognizes Indigenous leaders or companies in the resource sector who have demonstrated excellence in any of the following areas: innovation, best practice, sustainability, and/or capacity-building in their home community or region.

This year, the Committee is pleased to present the award to the Tłıc̨hǫ Government.

The Tłıc̨hǫ Government is a key traditional landowner in the region north of Great Slave Lake. From a Mining and Exploration perspective, their Monfwi lands encompass an area that currently hosts some of the best geological potential in the northwest Territories.

  • In fact, the Tłıc̨hǫ Government’s traditional Monfwi lands host the entire NWT diamond industry, which people will know was the third largest producer in the world, and has contributed so much significant, modern wealth to the Tłıc̨hǫ, to the NWT, and to Canada. Their Monfwi lands today also offer new opportunity for critical mineral exploration and development to help the world address climate change.

  • Under the vision of Chief Jimmy Bruneau, “strong like two people”, the Tłıc̨hǫ worked closely with diamond mine developers to capture not only employment and business benefits, but also investments into the Tłıc̨hǫ people and into Tłıc̨hǫ community infrastructure.

  • The Tłıc̨hǫ land claim agreement is the first combined land claim and self-government agreement in the Northwest Territories, and it includes royalty sharing, and the power to collect most of the income taxes generated in their region. These are strengthened with high-paying mining and support jobs.

  • The Tłıc̨hǫ Government have developed a Tłîchô Use Plan, covering an area half the size of New Brunswick, and includes mineral rich lands. Their plan takes an open-for-business approach, with a vision that protects the land while recognizing that opportunities may be out there for land use proposals.

  • The Tłıc̨hǫ have always been front and center in promoting their region and the NWT at national and international mineral conferences, sending Chiefs and staff to represent their interests.

  • They continue to be very active in supporting and seeking infrastructure investment, from hydropower to roads. Last fall, through their efforts, the Tłıc̨hǫ Highway to Whati was officially opened, and this road will now support critical and other mineral development in the Monfwi region.

  • The Tłıc̨hǫ Government currently serves as the chair for the Intergovernmental Council Secretariat, an innovative Canadian leadership structure between public and Indigenous governments, and one that is involved in developing new mineral regulations for the NWT.

    For all of their strong work that supports mineral resource development in the Northwest Territories, we are pleased to award the Indigenous Achievement Award to the Tłıc̨hǫ Government.