Share Your Questions and Comments on the Draft UN Declaration Action Plan
Emergency Management Reform (Short Term)
GNWT’s current emergency planning policies and procedures require reform to ensure alignment with UNDRIP.
Driven by a commitment to implement UNDRIP and meet the needs of Indigenous Governments, the GNWT is working with Indigenous Governments and Organizations and communities, including members represented through the APC, to co-develop and establish bilateral emergency and communications protocols, as requested, before the 2026 wildfire season. The protocols will strengthen timely, coordinated, and culturally informed communication during emergency events and enhance Indigenous governments’ participation in local decision-making processes during emergencies. These protocols will serve as an immediate step toward broader legislative and policy reform.
In the interim, the GNWT has developed an Emergency Response Event Communication Protocol with Indigenous Governments to ensure clear communication between Indigenous Governments and the GNWT during emergency events.
Target: Interim emergency response events communications protocol to be co-developed with all Indigenous governments and in effect by Spring 2026.
Collaborative Emergency Management (Long-Term)
The GNWT in collaboration and cooperation with Indigenous Governments, through the appropriate intergovernmental forum(s), which may include the APC, NWTCOL working groups, or other tables will co-develop reforms to the GNWT’s emergency planning legislation, policies, and procedures, including alignment with UNDRIP:
- The GNWT will undertake a comprehensive review of the NWT Emergency Management Act, relevant policies, and procedures, and co-develop reforms to ensure that they align with UNDRIP and Indigenous Governments and Organizations’ priorities, including consideration of mechanisms for Indigenous Governments to participate as local authorities in emergency planning and response.
- The GNWT and Indigenous Governments and Organizations will advocate together for Indigenous Governments of the Northwest Territories to be eligible for federal funding support for emergency preparedness, response, recovery and mitigation, even if it needs to be at a community-by-community level similar to the Indigenous Services Canada Emergency Management and Preparedness (ISC EMAP) program, to build and implement community emergency management plans.
- If Territorial funding for emergency preparedness, response, recovery and mitigation becomes available in the future, the GNWT and Indigenous Governments and Organizations will negotiate access to such funding where Indigenous Governments and Organizations are responsible for delivering emergency management activities eligible for such funding, even if it needs to be at a community-by-community level, and
- The GNWT will establish mechanisms for Indigenous Governments to proactively provide situational awareness input to the Local Emergency Management Organization (LEMO) during emergencies, ensuring LEMO response actions reflect on-the-ground realities and local authority knowledge.
Target: Terms of reference for the Emergency Management working group finalized by 2026; Legislative review completed by late-2027, with development of legislative proposal by early 2028. The APC will receive updates on engagement, progress, and development of the proposed reforms under this action item, and will have the opportunity to provide input on UNDRIP alignment before the action item is treated as complete.
Data Sovereignty
In recognition of the inherent right of self-government of Indigenous Peoples and the GNWT’s commitment to reconciliation, the GNWT, in collaboration and cooperation with Indigenous Governments and Organizations, will review all legislation, policies, and procedures with respect to information sharing to ensure clearly articulated pathways that support Indigenous governments access to, control of and governance over data relevant to their members and jurisdictions.
The GNWT will, in collaboration and cooperation with Indigenous Governments and Organizations:
- Achieve co-developed consensus on the definition of Indigenous data sovereignty;
- Establish cross-departmental data-sharing Indigenous data sovereignty framework, including data-sharing standards rooted in the principles of Indigenous data sovereignty; and
- Identify existing legal or operational barriers to respectful information exchange and the propose collaborative solutions.
This work will be advanced through the NWTCOL HSS working group and reported through to the APC to ensure appropriate consent, access, and control mechanisms are in place across GNWT laws and systems.
Target: A cross-government data sovereignty framework will be co-developed by the end of 2027. Initial data sharing standard piloted with HSS by the end of 2027/2028.
Sustained Institutional Support and Funding for IGs for UNDRIP Implementation
Recommended in the Inaugural UNDRIP-IA Annual Report
The GNWT will work to establish a permanent, sustainable institutional funding framework to support the implementation of the UN Declaration across the Northwest Territories, informed by collaboration with Indigenous Governments and Organizations. This recognizes that aligning GNWT laws, policies, and practices with the UN Declaration is a long-term, collaborative process.
The framework will be designed to aim to provide predictable, ongoing, and adequate financial support to Indigenous Governments and Organizations participating in the APC and contributing to the implementation of the action plan. It will also provide a mechanism for supporting Indigenous-led implementation activities and ensure meaningful participation in line with statutory timelines, workplans, and reporting cycles.
The framework will build on the interim funding arrangements currently in place and evolve into a long-term model that is reflective of shared governance, mutual accountability and alignment with Article 39 of the UN Declaration.
Target: Ongoing funding through a sustainable institutional funding model implemented by late 2026.
Appoint Departmental UN Declaration Officers
Recommended in the Inaugural UNDRIP-IA Annual Report
The GNWT will ensure that each GNWT department designates a UN Declaration Officer to lead and coordinate departmental efforts in implementing the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples.
These Officers will:
- Serve as internal leads for each department’s UN Declaration implementation work and as key UNDRIP-IA liaisons with Indigenous Governments and Organizations, including through the APC where appropriate;
- Receive feedback from Indigenous Governments and Organizations regarding departmental implementation progress and efforts;
- Design and deliver department-specific training on the UN Declaration and its application; and
- Report on progress annually, with performance indicators co-developed by the APC and GNWT to track implementation across departments.
Target: All Officers appointed and training initiated by 2026, with department-wide training delivered by 2027; first annual departmental implementation reports tabled to the APC by 2027.
Reform to the Interpretation Act
Recommended in the Inaugural UNDRIP-IA Annual Report
The GNWT, in consultation and cooperation with Indigenous Governments and Organizations will review and develop amendments to the Interpretation Act, RSNWT 1988, to include a non-derogation clause that:
- Requires that all territorial enactments be interpreted in a manner consistent with section 35 of the Constitution Act, 1982 and the minimum standards set out in the UN Declaration;
- Affirms that no territorial law may be interpreted as abrogating or derogating from Aboriginal and treaty rights; and
- Provides clear interpretive guidance for courts, GNWT officials, and administrative bodies to ensure the full alignment of territorial laws and policies with the UN Declaration.
Target: The Department of Justice will recommend to the 21st Legislative Assembly Executive Council that this amendment be added to the legislative priorities for the 21st Legislative Assembly.