Fort McPherson’s Tetlit Gwich’in Dancers have hit many a stage in the past few years.
Now, they can add the prime minister’s court to their list of accomplishments.
“Yesterday was a highlight of my term with the Gwich’in Tribal Council,” said Gwich’in Tribal Council (GTC) Grand Chief Ken Kyikavichik.
The group was invited to perform during the Intergovernmental Leaders Forum in Gatineau, Que. They danced twice: first for leaders assembled for the pre-forum meeting on May 1 and then for Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and other delegates on May 2.
Dancers even showed Trudeau a step or two during the opening ceremonies.
This is the second such forum, which is a gathering of the federal head of state with leaders of self-governing Indigenous governments. In total, 30 self-governing bodies attended the two day forum. It was organized by the Land Claims Agreements Coalition (LCAC).
During the forum, Kyikavichik spoke directly with the prime minister in regards to fiscal process for modern treaty partners without self-government. He also made a presentation on the need for the federal government to assist Indigenous governments in the costs of implementing their agreements, including infrastructure but also cultural renewal and economic development.
Also discussed during the forum was emergency preparedness, countering illegal drugs in Indigenous communities, reducing red tape and passing bill S-13 to amend the Interpretation Act, which would require all federal laws to be interpreted so that they uphold rights provided by agreements between the Crown and self-governing nations.
The GTC was not the only self-governing body from the NWT in attendance. Also present at the forum were Inuvialuit Regional Corporation Chair Duane Ningaqsiq Smith, Ɂek’wahtı̨dǝ́ Danny Gaudet of the Délı̨nę Got’ı̨nę Government and Tłı̨chǫ Grand Chief Jackson Lafferty.
Trudeau announced during the forum he would create a new agent of parliament known as a commissioner for modern treaty implementation, to ensure future governments are “held to account.”
“This is a lasting commitment to be a better treaty partner,” said Trudeau. “To honour our agreements with Indigenous Peoples, we need to ensure that trust, transparency and accountability remain at the heart of our efforts to build renewed nation-to-nation, Inuit-Crown and government-to-government relationships.”
The commissioner will conduct independent oversight and review of the treaty process and provide regular reports to parliament on their progress and be able to compel government departments for information to further the government’s truth and reconciliation obligations.
