Dettah, Northwest Territories - Crown-Indigenous Relations and Northern Affairs Canada, Public Services and Procurement Canada, and the Yellowknives Dene First Nation
Working collaboratively to create more opportunities is key to advancing economic reconciliation with Indigenous Peoples in Canada.
Today, the Yellowknives Dene First Nation and the Government of Canada celebrated the signing of a procurement framework agreement with respect to the Giant Mine Remediation Project, which is the culmination of continued partnership and collaboration.
Chief Edward Sangris (Dettah) and Chief Fred Sangris (Ndılǫ) signed the agreement on behalf of the Yellowknives Dene First Nation. Canada was represented by the Honourable Dan Vandal, Minister of Northern Affairs, and the Minister responsible for PrairiesCan and CanNor and the Honourable Helena Jaczek, Minister of Public Services and Procurement.
In signing the agreement, Canada confirmed its commitment to ensure increased procurement opportunities to the Yellowknives Dene First Nation and other local Indigenous Peoples, affirming the tools and resources the Giant Mine Remediation Project will use to facilitate the participation of Indigenous businesses and members of the community in the work generated by the Project. This includes prioritizing contracts to Indigenous-owned businesses in the community during the time of the Project.
This agreement further ensures local Indigenous Peoples' role in the Project's procurement processes. It also creates an ongoing accountability mechanism for the Project Team to monitor and report to the Yellowknives Dene First Nation.
While the Agreement does not deal with the Yellowknives Dene First Nation's request for an apology or compensation for the harms caused to the Yellowknives Dene First Nation from mining in their territory, Canada recognizes the tremendous work they have undertaken on this important matter. Canada appreciates the opportunity to continue to work together on the path toward reconciliation and healing.
