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A ‘reset’ or ‘one and done’? First Nations and first ministers set to hold historic meeting
Source: CBC Politics
Date: 2026-10-25 08:00:00.0
Tags: [National, Indigenous, Governance, Infrastructure, Resources, Mining]The Assembly of First Nations, led by National Chief Cindy Woodhouse Nepinak, and Canadian first ministers are holding a historic, closed-door First Ministers' Meeting in Ottawa to redefine relations, discuss infrastructure, healthcare, and economic development, and address major project involvement. Notable absences include the premiers of Alberta, British Columbia, and Quebec, while several Indigenous leaders have expressed skepticism over meeting formats, speech restrictions, and stalled federal Indigenous legislation under Prime Minister Mark Carney. The federal government, through the Privy Council Office and Indigenous Services Minister Mandy Gull-Masty, plans to announce new community supports during the one-day conference.
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Yukon government asks court to toss Tr’ondëk Hwëch’in lawsuit over mining regulation changes
Source: Territories - Northern Affairs (Yukon, NWT, Nunavut)
Date: 2026-10-23 18:41:15.0
Tags: [National, Indigenous, Mining, Resources, Justice, Governance]The Yukon government filed a statement of defence in the Yukon Supreme Court asking to dismiss a lawsuit brought by the Tr’ondëk Hwëch’in First Nation regarding temporary amendments made in May 2025 to placer-mining, quartz-mining, and water-use regulations. The amendments, set to remain in effect until December 31, 2028, allow the territorial government to extend soon-to-expire permits and licences for eligible operators to mitigate a major permitting backlog. Tr’ondëk Hwëch’in's January lawsuit alleges that the territory failed to consult the First Nation in violation of its final agreement and seeks financial compensation, whereas the government argues it had no duty to consult during the legislative process and that the First Nation delayed legal action.
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Q&A | Nunavut’s devolution is 6 months away. Here’s what the premier says to expect
Source: Territories - Northern Affairs (Yukon, NWT, Nunavut)
Date: 2026-10-19 10:00:00.0
Tags: [National, Governance, Resources, Mining, Indigenous]Nunavut Premier John Main outlined preparations for the territory's April 1 devolution date, which will transfer responsibilities for Crown land and natural resources from the federal government to the Government of Nunavut. The transition involves establishing a new department responsible for lands and resources, transferring nearly 100 federal workers, and maintaining an 85 percent Inuit employment target within the new department. Initially, the Nunavut government will mirror existing federal regulations and mineral tenure rules before undertaking future legislative reviews to align policies with territorial priorities. Additionally, Premier Main addressed the financial restructuring of major regional employer Baffinland, owner of the Mary River Mine in the Qikiqtani region, emphasizing the importance of corporate viability for local employment and royalties.
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Q&A | Years in the making: Tr'ondëk Hwëch'in chief weighs in on proposed Dawson regional land use plan
Source: Territories - Northern Affairs (Yukon, NWT, Nunavut)
Date: 2026-10-15 01:16:47.0
Tags: [National, Indigenous, Resources, Mining, Environment, Governance]Tr'ondëk Hwëch'in First Nation Hahke (chief) Darren Taylor expressed hope that a final agreement on the Dawson regional land use plan will be reached with the Yukon government in 2027. The proposed plan outlines acceptable land uses across 40,000 square kilometres in north-central Yukon, balancing environmental protection, stewardship, and historic preservation with economic development and critical mineral resource extraction. Chief Taylor emphasized that without the plan, the First Nation will withhold support for regional mining and development projects unless companies negotiate direct Impact Benefit Agreements (IBAs).
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Whitehorse City Council rejects potential mineral exploration expansion
Source: Territories - Northern Affairs (Yukon, NWT, Nunavut)
Date: 2026-10-15 00:11:57.0
Tags: [Municipal, Mining, Resources, Environment, Governance, Indigenous]By a 4-to-3 vote, the Whitehorse City Council rejected a petition by Gladiator Metals to amend municipal bylaws and the official community plan to permit mineral exploration across three areas currently designated as greenspace within the Whitehorse copper belt. The defeated amendments drew divided public and council opinions concerning industrial environmental impacts versus economic reconciliation and resource development opportunities supported by the Kwanlin Dün First Nation and the Ta'an Kwäch’än Council. Council members opposed to the changes cited a lack of sufficient scientific and environmental justification, leaving the restrictive zoning status quo in place.
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Gov't consultations underway on shutdown of N.W.T.'s Ekati diamond mine watchdog
Source: Territories - Northern Affairs (Yukon, NWT, Nunavut)
Date: 2026-10-07 11:00:00.0
Tags: [National, Mining, Environment, Indigenous, Resources, Governance]The Northwest Territories and federal governments have initiated consultations on the proposed dissolution of the Independent Environmental Monitoring Agency (IEMA), the watchdog organization that has monitored developments at the Ekati diamond mine for nearly three decades. The mine, operated by the now-receivership Arctic Canadian Diamond Company, ended production earlier this year and is currently a public liability managed by PricewaterhouseCoopers using a $326-million reclamation security fund. Territorial and federal officials are considering whether funds allocated to IEMA should be redirected directly to site reclamation activities. Indigenous governments—including the Tłı̨chǫ Government, Yellowknives Dene First Nation, Łutsel K’e Dene First Nation, North Slave Métis Alliance, and Kitikmeot Inuit Association—alongside IEMA executive director Mark Casas, are participating in the input process regarding the future of the environmental agreement and independent oversight.
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Saskatchewan Approves Mineral Rights Transfers Supporting Three First Nations' Treaty Land Entitlement Agreements
Source: Saskatchewan - Government News
Date: 2026-10-01 22:00:00.0
Tags: [Saskatchewan, Indigenous, Mining, Resources, Governance]The Government of Saskatchewan approved the transfer of Crown mineral rights to the Government of Canada to support Treaty Land Entitlement (TLE) agreements for three First Nations. The approvals include approximately 194.25 hectares (480 acres) for the Ahtahkakoop Cree Nation, 65.15 hectares (161 acres) for the Carry the Kettle Nakoda Nation, and 64.75 hectares (160 acres) for the Pasqua First Nation. These transfers advance the reserve creation process under historic treaty obligations, contributing to a total of approximately 900,970 acres transferred to reserve status in Saskatchewan under TLE agreements as of September 2026.
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Clean-up almost done at abandoned mine site on First Nation settlement land in Yukon
Source: Territories - Northern Affairs (Yukon, NWT, Nunavut)
Date: 2026-09-22 17:54:56.0
Tags: [National, Mining, Environment, Indigenous, Resources, Governance]The Yukon government spent approximately $750,000 to remediate the abandoned Discovery Creek placer mine site located on Little Salmon Carmacks First Nation settlement land west of Carmacks. Contracted through KBL Environmental, crews removed 300 cubic metres of contaminated soil and over 19,000 litres of diesel fuel hydrocarbons, alongside machinery, vehicles, and trailers, after land guardians discovered the site in 2022 following the owner's death in 2021. First Nation officials criticized the four-year gap between the site's discovery and cleanup, advocating for a formalized territorial framework and contingency fund to ensure rapid responses to environmental contamination on settlement lands.
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Yukon gov't touts its efforts to streamline mine permitting
Source: Territories - Northern Affairs (Yukon, NWT, Nunavut)
Date: 2026-09-03 19:51:59.0
Tags: [National, Mining, Resources, Governance, Indigenous]The Yukon government announced that it has more than doubled the number of decision documents issued for mining and exploration projects so far this year, rising from 48 to over 100 compared to the same period last year. Mines Minister Ted Laking stated that permitting timelines have been reduced by over 50 per cent, with most decisions now issued within 90 days. The territory achieved these efficiencies by redeploying staff, reprioritizing workloads, streamlining internal processes, and working with other decision bodies while maintaining its consultation obligations with Yukon First Nations.
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