Leaders from Across North American Arctic gather in Toronto:

Leaders from Across North American Arctic gather in Toronto: Discussion on Challenges and Opportunities for Investment.

Darrell Beaulieu, President and CEO of Denendeh Investments Incorporated is attending the prestigious 3^rd Annual Arctic360 Arctic Infrastructure Investment Conference in Toronto, ON , March 9 – 11, 2022, as Spokesperson for the NWT Indigenous Leaders Economic Coalition, the “Coalition”. The Arctic360 Conference brings together leaders from across the Arctic to discuss the challenges and opportunities for investment and building a sustainable and prosperous North American Arctic. Mr. Beaulieu’s message to the leaders assembled is, “Indigenous governments, corporations and businesses in the NWT want to be co-owners in the resource and infrastructure development needed in the North and this will help instill investor confidence in these projects.”   The Coalition members are the political and business leaders representing the Dene, Inuvialuit and Metis of the NWT for the purpose to take an active, collective role in the territorial economy.

NWT Indigenous Leaders Seek Solutions to Address NWT Economic Challenges

December 12, 2018 (Yellowknife) Indigenous leaders representing the Dene, Inuvialuit and Metis gathered in Yellowknife on December 11 & 12, 2018, along with guests from the federal and territorial governments, for a serious discussion regarding the state of the NWT economy, to discuss solutions and that existing programs, policies and practices such as procurement need to be addressed, and how to build unity through partnership and action.

During the two-day meeting, the Indigenous governments discussed a wide range of options for economic collaboration. The leaders agreed that as land holders and rights holders, Indigenous people in the NWT want to take the lead in building our economies and exercising our inherent right to self-determination.

Indigenous participants agreed to work together through a designated committee to advance the work identified by the leaders. There is a proposed meeting early in 2019 to keep the momentum going.

“Let’s harness the desire and expertise of Indigenous people to provide solutions” concluded spokesperson Dehcho Grand Chief Gladys Norwegian.

For more information: Dehcho Grand Chief Gladys Norwegian (867) 445-6150

Yellowknife, NT: Indigenous leaders from the Dene, Metis and Inuvialuit of the NWT met in Yellowknife on May 16, 2018 to explore ways to work together and set priorities to stimulate and drive the territorial economy. This notable one-day discussion focused on ways Indigenous governments can utilize our authorities and provisions contained in the treaties, and land, resource and self-government agreements to meet our economic objectives. Existing Impact and Benefit and Participation Agreements will be respected. As well as moving forward with our current business partnerships that are all important and valuable as building blocks of our respective communities.

During the Forum the Indigenous leaders confirmed a will to work together based on the traditional values of sharing and helping each other. We acknowledged our power and authority as rights holders and discussed ways to monetize those rights to provide own-sourced revenues to improve the social and economic well-being of our members. Indigenous owned transportation, energy and communication corridors would open the exploration and development of our natural resources and help bring those resources to market; address the NWT’s infrastructure deficit; and help close the income disparity between the Indigenous and non-Indigenous residents in the NWT. Member of Parliament Michael McLeod and Hon. Wally Schumann, Minister of Industry, Tourism and Investment and Infrastructure participated in the discussions and senior officials from the federal and territorial governments and business and industry leaders attended as observers.

“There is consensus to work together and as leaders we have to determine how we will
move forward,”

concluded Darrell Beaulieu, President and CEO of the Denendeh Group of Companies who facilitated the Forum. Participants were asked to review a draft MOU for working together and provide their input into the next Indigenous Leaders Economic Forum, tentatively set for December 3 & 4, 2018.

For more information: Darrell Beaulieu (867) 920-2764