The Yellowknives Dene First Nation and the Tłı̨chǫ government have jointly agreed on the location for the Arctic Economic and Security Corridor. This corridor, a 400-kilometre all-season road, will link the Grays Bay Road and Port in Nunavut to the N.W.T. highway system. It is part of the nation-building projects aimed at enhancing military presence and mineral exploration in Northern Canada, with potential spur roads connecting Wekweètì and Gamètì to the main route.

Led by the Yellowknives Dene First Nation and the Tłı̨chǫ government in collaboration with territorial and federal authorities, the project signifies Indigenous nations taking the lead in major developments. Tłı̨chǫ Grand Chief Jackson Lafferty expressed enthusiasm about showcasing Indigenous leadership in project design.

The proposed corridor, approximately 30 kilometers wide, traverses the Slave Geological Province. Leaders stress that it is a preliminary plan and not the final road. Emphasizing its significance, both Yellowknives Dene First Nation Chief Ernest Betsina and Chief Fred Sangris highlighted the importance of minimizing impacts on the caribou population, which inhabits the area and uses it for migration.

After over a year of collaboration, drawing on community-led research, traditional knowledge, and scientific expertise, the two nations reached a consensus on the corridor, recognizing that it may not have been their individual first choice. Premier R.J. Simpson affirmed the Northwest Territories government’s support for the agreement and commitment to working alongside the Indigenous nations.

The completion of this corridor will establish Canada’s first land-based connection to Nunavut’s Arctic coast. The Tłı̨chǫ government and Yellowknives Dene First Nation plan to engage their members, neighboring Indigenous communities, and the public for input on the proposed route to shape the project’s future direction.