How Self-Government Works with Treaty, the Land Claim and Other Laws

As Dehlà Got’įne, we have an inherent right to self-government. “Inherent” means this right flows from our original occupation of the land that is now Canada and from the way we lived and organized ourselves before Europeans arrived. This right is recognized by the Constitution of Canada and is basis for our negotiations with Canada and the GNWT.

Relation between SG and other agreements and laws

Our self-government agreement will help to further describe and affirm our inherent right. The self-government agreement will not replace or limit our inherent right to self-government.

The Dehlà Got’įne also have a right to self-determination. This is recognized by the United Nations in the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP). It is a right Dehlà Got’įne have always had.

This right goes beyond the self-government agreement. The first module of our self-government agreement will focus on establishing a recognized Dehlà Got’įne Government and law-making authorities in a few key areas of governance and the administration of Justice. Future negotiations will focus on clarifying our authorities over programs and services, and further describing how the Dehlà Got’įne, Canada, and GNWT will work together to ensure the Dehlà Got’įne Government can use its lawmaking authority and deliver programs.

Self-determination includes many more things, like developing the Dehlà Got’įne economy, defending Dehlà Got’įne rights and lands, creating opportunities for Dehlà Got’įne people, developing Dehlà Got’įne language and culture, and setting a course for the future.

Our ancestors made Treaty 11 with the Crown back in 1921. This is an important agreement, which established a nation-to-nation relationship between our people and the Crown. Self-government will not change our Treaty or the rights of our people under Treaty. The self-government agreement will build on the Treaty by reaffirming our government-to-government relationship with the Crown and by making it clear that we have the right to make our own decisions and pass our own laws in our territory.

In 1994, our leaders concluded the Sahtu Dene and Métis Comprehensive Land Claim Agreement (SDMCLC) with the Government of Canada and the GNWT. This agreement helped to make the land rights of the Sahtu Dene and Métis more clear, and created the basis for future self-government negotiations by individual Sahtu communities.

The Dehlà Got’įne Self-Government Agreement will recognize and respect the Dehlà Got’įne inherent right to self-government and build on Treaty 11, the Sahtu Dene and Métis Comprehensive Land Claim. It will establish the Dehlà Got’įne Government as a recognized government and establish a new government-to-government-to-government relationship between the Dehlà Got’įne, the Government of the Northwest Territories and the Government of Canada.

In addition, the Dehlà Got’įne will develop and approve the Dehlà Got’įne Constitution. The Constitution will be consistent with the land claim and the self-government agreement. It will describe the responsibilities of the Dehlà Got’įne Government and Dehlà Got’įne Citizens. This will be the highest Dehlà Got’įne law. Dehlà Got’įne Government will need to respect it at all times.

The Constitution of Canada will continue to protect the rights of all Dehlà Got’įne as citizens of Canada and Section 35 of the Constitution will continue to ensure the Government of Canada must consult Dehlà Got’įne on decisions or action that could impact their rights.