NWT Indigenous Leaders Economic Coalition: Joint Communique

(December 12, 2019) Yellowknife, NT: Indigenous leaders from the Dene, Métis and Inuvialuit met in Yellowknife over the past two days (December 11-12, 2019) to review and endorse a framework on how they will collaborate to invest in important projects.

This two-day Forum built on the momentum and consensus from previous gatherings and took the important step of outlining how to seek and implement opportunities and invest in projects together while instilling investor confidence in others. During the Forum, the Indigenous leaders collaborated on a Framework for a 5 Year Strategic Plan.

This work will be completed through the formation of an Investor Committee which will include representatives from the Dene, Métis and Inuvialuit. The framework is built on two immediate priorities: identifying and investing in initial projects within the first year, as well as pursuing the development of a venture investment fund for future opportunities.

The vision for this Coalition is “to advance Indigenous governments and businesses in the NWT becoming leaders in the NWT economy and to share wealth creation across the NWT” said Tlicho Grand Chief George Mackenzie. Gwich’in Grand Chief Bobbie Jo Greenland-Morgan said, “We are the descendants of First Peoples of this territory, we are the land-owners and rights holders, we have the ability to influence the future of our economy to benefit everyone.”

Jordan McLeod, Chair of Aklavik Inuvialuit Community Corporation added, “We are happy to be here and look forward to working with the other Indigenous organizations.”

Marc Whitford, Vice President of North Slave Métis Alliance, echoed statements of other leaders that, “It is imperative that Indigenous-led businesses take back opportunities that typically flow to businesses from the south.”

The motivation coming out of the Forum was described by Sahtu Grand Chief Wilbert Kochon as “Let’s do it! The opportunities are there, we need to work together to capture them.”

Consensus of the framework was reached at the end of the last day. Darrell Beaulieu, President and CEO of Denendeh Group of Companies was appointed as the spokesperson for the Coalition.

For more information: Darrell Beaulieu (867) 920-2764