Cultural rights, language and identity

Share Your Questions and Comments on the Draft UN Declaration Action Plan

Reforming Indigenous Governments’ Role in Child, Youth and Family Services 

To align with the Federal Act respecting First Nations, Inuit and Metis children, youth and families, and UNDRIP, the GNWT is in the process of amending the Child and Family Services Act, having engaged with Indigenous Governments and

Organizations, and reviewing related laws and policies to:

  • Support keeping Indigenous children within their communities and recognize and respect the inherent right of Indigenous governments to self-govern;
  • Incorporate more trauma-informed, inclusive language and reduce the stigma associated with receiving child and family services;
  • Ensure greater flexibility of voluntary support services to better meet the needs of children, youth, families, young persons, and expectant parents;
  • Encourage participation and collaboration of families, communities, Indigenous Governments and Organizations, and other cultural and community organizations in planning for children and youth;
  • Preserve family relations and maintain cultural connections;
  • Enshrine the right of a child and youth to be heard under the Act;
  • Continue moving towards a GNWT-wide system that supports the best interests of children, youth, and families in collaboration with multiple GNWT Departments;
  • Reduce barriers to information sharing, while also ensuring protection of sensitive child and family services information; and 
  • Support the exercise of jurisdiction and implementation of Indigenous child and family services laws.

Target: Proposed amendments to the NWT Child and Family Services Act are expected to be tabled in 2026.

Inclusive (vs Exclusive) Invitations for Engagement

The GNWT will develop or amend internal policies for all departments to ensure it is standard practice to include all potential representatives when there is any uncertainty about who to contact within an Indigenous Government or Organization, in collaboration with those organizations. GNWT will ensure these policy updates are meaningfully implemented across all departments. 

Target: GNWT will share update to process by end of 2027.

Recognize Traditional Names for Geographical Features

The GNWT will engage with Indigenous Governments and Organizations in the Fall of 2025 to amend the Geographical and Community Place Names Policy to better align with UNDRIP. The GNWT will continue to meaningfully involve Indigenous Governments and Organizations in the geographical and community place naming process. The revised policy will better promote the official recognition of traditional names and geographic features, to contribute to cultural continuity for the people of the NWT, reflecting Indigenous languages, histories and relationships to place, and capture the existing consultation requirements and processes undertaken by the GNWT with Indigenous Governments and Organizations. 

Target: Engagement with Indigenous Governments and Organizations occurred in Fall 2025. Target for Cabinet approval of amended policy is Spring 2026.

Recognize Treaty Celebrations as Statutory Holidays

The GNWT recognizes the cultural and historical importance of Treaty and community Indigenous celebrations and will continue to collaborate with Indigenous Governments and Organizations to advance their recognition in alignment with UN Declaration.

As of October 2024, Indigenous employees are eligible for up to four paid cultural leave days per fiscal year to participate in ceremonial, cultural, or spiritual activities, including community Indigenous celebrations. This clarification was communicated across departments as part of the implementation of the new collective agreement.

For employees who are members of a treaty signatory group, the cultural leave entitlement is separate from any treaty-specific leave they may have under their treaty to attend their nation’s treaty days. Those treaty entitlements remain distinct and do not reduce or replace the four cultural leave days. Indigenous employees who are not part of a treaty signatory group do not receive treaty-specific leave; however, they may still use their cultural leave to attend treaty day celebrations if they choose, and may request unpaid leave once the four paid days are used. 

Target: Policy implemented and communicated across departments, with review and engagement to occur, assessing implementation and informed by Indigenous governments.