WHEREAS the Government of the Northwest Territories (GNWT) and the Government of Canada are negotiating a final agreement on non-renewable resource revenue sharing, and the transfer of management of lands and resources to the GNWT;

AND WHEREAS this transfer is only desirable if it benefits all people and regions of the Northwest Territories;

AND WHEREAS Dene and Metis land claim organizations in the Northwest Territories have the right to be involved in the negotiation and implementation of a devolution accord for the NWT;

AND WHEREAS negotiations on devolution are proceeding without the involvement of any Dene land claim organizations;

AND WHEREAS attempts by Aboriginal organizations to conclude a protocol agreement with the GNWT failed in January 2011;

AND WHEREAS devolution will affect self-government and land management in all regions of the NWT;

NOW THEREFORE I MOVE, seconded by the honourable Member for Tu Nedhe, that this Legislative Assembly strongly recommends that the GNWT suspend devolution negotiations for 12 months, or until such time as a general agreement to proceed has been reached;

AND FURTHER, to accomplish this goal, that the GNWT establish an Aboriginal devolution commission, comprised of representatives of all the NWT’s Aboriginal governments or land claim organizations;

AND FURTHERMORE, that the Aboriginal devolution commission’s mandate be a review of the current agreement-in-principle on devolution to assess the benefits for Aboriginal groups, and to make recommendations to the GNWT respecting a fully cooperative process of reaching a final agreement within 12 months of the commission’s establishment.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.