The Yellowknives Dene First Nation and the Tłı̨chǫ government have jointly agreed on the designated site for the Arctic Economic and Security Corridor. This proposed 400-kilometre all-season road will link the Grays Bay Road and Port in Nunavut with the N.W.T. highway system as part of nation-building initiatives to enhance military presence and mineral exploration in Northern Canada. Additionally, potential spur roads connecting Wekweètì and Gamètì with the main road are being considered.
Led by the Yellowknives Dene First Nation and the Tłı̨chǫ government, in collaboration with territorial and federal authorities, the project aims to showcase Indigenous leadership in major project development. Tłı̨chǫ Grand Chief Jackson Lafferty expressed enthusiasm for the opportunity to demonstrate Indigenous nations’ capability in leading and designing significant projects.
The proposed corridor, approximately 30 kilometers wide, traverses the Slave Geological Province. Leaders emphasize that this corridor signifies the initial phase of the project, not the final road construction. Yellowknives Dene First Nation Chief Ernest Betsina and Chief Fred Sangris stress that the corridor’s design aims to minimize impacts on the caribou population and their habitat.
The agreement on the corridor location followed extensive efforts over a year, drawing on community-led research, traditional knowledge, and scientific insights. While both nations reached a consensus, they acknowledged that the agreed corridor may not have been their individual first choice. Premier R.J. Simpson affirmed the Northwest Territories government’s support for the consensus and commitment to collaborating with the two Nations.
Upon completion, the corridor will establish Canada’s initial land-based connection to Nunavut’s Arctic coast. The Tłı̨chǫ government and Yellowknives Dene First Nation will engage their members, neighboring Indigenous groups, and community members to provide input on the proposed route, shaping the project’s future direction.
