Athabasca Denesųłiné - Transboundary negotiations
Parties are negotiating final agreements to clarify and to provide certainty with respect to Athabasca Denesųłiné harvesting rights and to Manitoba Denesųłiné land and harvesting rights in the Northwest Territories.
Negotiation parties
- Athabasca Denesųłiné (Saskatchewan)
- Government of Canada
- Government of the Northwest Territories (GNWT)
Negotiation overview
Canada is currently negotiating with the Athabasca Denesųłiné to find an out-of-court resolution to litigation initiated by the Athabasca Denesųłiné following the ratification of the Nunavut Final Agreement.
Map of the interim agreement area
Frequently asked questions
Who are the Manitoba and Athabasca Denesųłiné?
- The Manitoba and Athabasca Denesųłiné are a Dene people of Chipewyan ancestry living in Northern Saskatchewan and Northern Manitoba.
- There are 4,500 Denesųłiné currently living in five communities located in Northern Saskatchewan (Fond-du-Lac, Black Lake, and Hatchet Lake) and in Northern Manitoba (Lac Brochet and Tadoule Lake).
Who are the parties involved in the negotiations?
The parties involved in negotiations are the Manitoba and Athabasca Denesųłiné, the Government of Canada and the Government of the Northwest Territories.
Why are the parties negotiating?
- These negotiations stemmed from the 1991 Benoanie court case in Saskatchewan and the 1993 Samuel/Thorassie court case in Manitoba.
- The parties are negotiating Final Agreements to clarify and to provide certainty with respect to Athabasca Denesųłiné harvesting rights and to Manitoba Denesųłiné land and harvesting rights in the Northwest Territories.
What are the negotiations about?
- These negotiations centre on Denesųłiné harvesting rights north of 60.
- The area, in which the Manitoba and Athabasca Denesųłiné assert harvesting rights in the NWT, is in the south eastern corner of the NWT.