The Yellowknives Dene First Nation and the Tłı̨chǫ government have agreed on the location for the Arctic Economic and Security Corridor. This 400-kilometre road will connect Grays Bay Road and Port in Nunavut to the N.W.T. highway system, part of the nation-building projects aimed at enhancing military presence and mineral exploration in Northern Canada. The Yellowknives Dene First Nation and the Tłı̨chǫ government are leading the project in collaboration with territorial and federal governments.
Tłı̨chǫ Grand Chief Jackson Lafferty expressed enthusiasm in showcasing Indigenous leadership on significant projects. The proposed corridor, about 30 kilometers wide, traverses the Slave Geological Province. Leaders stressed that it is a preliminary plan and not a finalized road. The corridor’s route was carefully chosen to minimize impacts on caribou habitats and migration routes.
The agreement, reached after over a year of work, integrates community-led research, traditional knowledge, and Western science. While both nations acknowledged that the chosen corridor may not have been their individual preference, they emphasized the importance of the consensus. Premier R.J. Simpson affirmed the Northwest Territories government’s support for the agreement and highlighted the significance of Indigenous-led collaborations for future developments.
Upon completion, the corridor will be the first land-based connection to Nunavut’s Arctic coast in Canada. The Tłı̨chǫ government and Yellowknives Dene First Nation will invite input from their members, neighboring Indigenous groups, and local communities to shape the project’s progression. This inclusive approach aims to ensure all stakeholders have a voice in the corridor’s development.
