Sahtu Dene and Metis
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Annual Report of the Implementation Committee Sahtu Dene and Metis Comprehensive Land Claim Agreement: April 1, 2008 – March 31, 2009 Published under the authority of the Minister of Indian Affairs and Northern Development and Federal Interlocutor for Métis and Non-Status Indians Ottawa, 2010 www.ainc-inac.gc.ca 1-800-567-9604 TTY only 1-866-553-0554 QS-5394-003-BB-A1 Catalogue No. R31-10/2009 ISBN 978-1-100-52544-0 © Minister of Public Works and Government Services Canada Foreword The Implementation Committee is pleased to provide its 14th annual report on the implementation of the Sahtu Dene and Metis Comprehensive Land Claim Agreement (SDMCLCA). The report covers 12 months from April 2008 to March 2009. The Committee consists of a senior official from each of the parties: the Sahtu Secretariat Incorporated, the Government of the Northwest Territories (GNWT), and the Government of Canada. It functions by consensus and serves as a forum where parties can raise issues and voice their concerns. The role of the Implementation Committee is to oversee, direct, and monitor the implementation of the Agreement. This Annual Report describes achievements and developments during the year. Information is contributed by various territorial and federal departments, The Sahtu Secretariat Incorporated (SSI), and other bodies established under the Agreement. Implementing the Agreement presents opportunities and challenges, and progress by the Implementation Committee is being achieved through a relationship defined by mutual respect and a commitment to fulfilling the obligations set out in the Agreement. We are committed to strengthening the partnerships that are essential to the successful implementation of the Agreement. Rocky Norwegion Scott Alexander Kimberly Thompson The Sahtu Secretariat Government of the Government Incorporated Northwest Territories of Canada Comprehensive Land Claim Agreement: April 1, 2008 – March 31, 2009 i Table of Contents Glossary of Acronyms and Abbreviations ....................................................iv 1. Features of the Agreement ........................................................................1 2. Highlights ......................................................................................................2 3. Implementation Committee ......................................................................3 4. Implementing Bodies ..................................................................................4 4.1 Sahtu Enrolment Board .....................................................................................4 4.2 Sahtu Arbitration Panel .....................................................................................5 4.3 Sahtu Renewable Resources Board ................................................................5 4.4 Sahtu Land and Water Board ...........................................................................6 4.5 Sahtu Land Use Planning Board ......................................................................8 4.6 Mackenzie Valley Environmental Impact Review Board ............................8 4.7 NWT Board Forum .............................................................................................9 5. The Sahtu Secretariat Incorporated .......................................................10 5.1 Annual General Meeting ................................................................................11 5.2 Sahtu Trust .........................................................................................................11 5.3 Norman Wells Proven Area ............................................................................11 5.4 Taxation ..............................................................................................................12 5.5 Economic Measures .........................................................................................12 5.6 Community Renewable Resources Councils .............................................12 5.7 Mackenzie Gas Project ....................................................................................13 5.8 Lands and Resources .......................................................................................13 5.9 NWT Species at Risk Act .................................................................................13 5.10 Aboriginal Summit, Devolution, and Resource Revenue Sharing .......14 5.11 Self-Government Negotiations ...................................................................14 ii Annual Report of the Implementation Committee, Sahtu Dene and Métis 6 Government of the Northwest Territories ............................................16 6.1 Aboriginal Affairs and Intergovernmental Relations ................................16 6.2 Municipal and Community Affairs ...............................................................16 6.3 Environment and Natural Resources ...........................................................16 6.4 Education, Culture, and Employment ..........................................................18 6.5 Industry, Tourism, and Investment ...............................................................19 6.6 Justice .................................................................................................................21 6.7 Transportation ..................................................................................................22 6.8 Public Works and Services .............................................................................22 6.9 Northwest Territories Housing Corporation ..............................................22 7 Government of Canada ............................................................................23 7.1 Federal Coordination of Implementation Activities .................................23 7.2 Economic Activity and Employment .............................................................23 7.3 Environmental and Wildlife Management ..................................................24 7.4 Heritage ..............................................................................................................27 7.5 Land and Water Management .......................................................................27 7.6 Self-Government Negotiations .....................................................................29 7.7 Other Implementation Activities ..................................................................29 Appendix 1: Membership of Implementing Bodies ..................................30 Appendix 2: Web Site Addresses ...................................................................32 Appendix 3: Map of Sahtu Settlement Area ................................................33 Appendix 4: Schedule of Capital Transfer Payments, 1994-2008 .............34 Appendix 5: Implementation Payments, 1994-1995 to 2008-2009 ............35 Appendix 6: Payments under Section 10.1 with Respect to Resource Royalties Paid to Government, 1993-2008 ...............................................36 Appendix 7: Property Taxes Reimbursed to the Government of the Northwest Territories, 1994-2008 ..............................................................37 Comprehensive Land Claim Agreement: April 1, 2008 – March 31, 2009 iii Glossary of Acronyms and Abbreviations C&A Central and Arctic Region CCG Canadian Coast Guard CIMP Cumulative Impact Monitoring Program CRA Canada Revenue Agency CWS Canadian Wildlife Service DAAIR Department of Aboriginal Affairs and Intergovernmental Relations (NWT) DFO Department of Fisheries and Oceans DoT Department of Transportation (NWT) EC Environment Canada ECE Department of Education, Culture, and Employment (NWT) ENR Department of Environment and Natural Resources (NWT) GIS Geographic Information System GNWT Government of the Northwest Territories GSC Geological Survey of Canada INAC Indian and Northern Affairs Canada ITI Department of Industry, Tourism, and Investment (NWT) JRP Joint Review Panel MGP Mackenzie Gas Project MOU Memorandum of Understanding MVEIRB Mackenzie Valley Environmental Impact Review Board MVLWB Mackenzie Valley Land and Water Board MVRMA Mackenzie Valley Resource Management Act NTGO Northwest Territories Geoscience Office NWT Northwest Territories PAS Protected Areas Strategy PWGSC Public Works and Government Services Canada PWS Public Works and Services RRC Renewable Resources Council RRCO Renewable Resource Communications Officer SDC Sahtu Dene Council SDMCLCA Sahtu Dene and Metis Comprehensive Land Claim Agreement SEB Sahtu Enrolment Board SEED Support to Entrepreneurs and Economic Development SLUPB Sahtu Land Use Planning Board SLWB Sahtu Land and Water Board SRRB Sahtu Renewable Resources Board SSA Sahtu Settlement Area SSI The Sahtu Secretariat Incorporated iv Annual Report of the Implementation Committee, Sahtu Dene and Métis 1 Features of the Agreement In July 1993, the Sahtu Dene and Metis voted to approve the SDMCLCA. After being approved by the governments of the Northwest Territories (NWT) and Canada, the Agreement was signed on September 6, 1993. The Sahtu Dene and Metis Land Claim Settlement Act came into effect on June 23, 1994. Sahtu Dene and Metis became the owners of 41,437 square kilometres of land in the NWT (approximately 1.7 percent of the territory), an area slightly larger than Vancouver Island. The beneficiaries also receive an annual capital transfer of $75 million (in 1990 dollars) over a 15-year period. Over the same period, the Sahtu Dene and Metis repaid to the Government of Canada their outstanding negotiating loans which