The Consensus Corridor

A proposed corridor, not a final route.

In August 2026, the Yellowknives Dene First Nation and the Tłı̨chǫ Government reached consensus on a proposed corridor for the Arctic Economic and Security Corridor. Two Nations, one corridor, reached together after more than a year of work.

What the consensus corridor is

The corridor is a band roughly 30 kilometres wide, running from the Northwest Territories highway system to the Nunavut border. It is a proposed corridor, not a final route. The precise road within it has not been set. That comes later, through more engineering, environmental study and regulatory review. The corridor can still change as engagement continues.

How the corridor was chosen

Shared priorities guided the decision. Protecting caribou was a top priority, held alongside long-term prosperity for Indigenous and northern communities and Indigenous leadership of the project. For the Tłı̨chǫ Government, connecting communities was a strong priority as well.

The corridor was drawn to reduce impacts on the most sensitive caribou habitat and key migration routes. That work drew on Traditional Knowledge from Tłı̨chǫ and Yellowknives Dene Elders and Knowledge Holders alongside scientific studies. A road through the barrenlands will still have impacts on caribou. That is true of any route, and it has to be faced honestly. Those impacts will be anticipated, monitored and managed for the long term through project design and operations.

Reaching consensus

Reaching consensus was not simple. Both Nations came to the table with the same core priorities and different perspectives on the options. The consensus corridor is likely not the path either Nation would have arrived at on its own. They came together for the good of their people, Indigenous communities and the Northwest Territories.

This shows that Indigenous Nations can resolve complex regional questions together, through respectful dialogue, technical evidence and shared stewardship.

What comes next

The route is not final. Engagement is taking place. The Tłı̨chǫ Government and the Yellowknives Dene First Nation are sharing the proposed corridor with their citizens and members and beginning direct engagement with neighbouring Indigenous governments and other interested parties. Environmental review and the support of territorial and federal partners are still ahead. This is the start of an important conversation, not the end of it.

What people share in the weeks and months ahead will help shape the path forward.

The Proposed Consensus Corridor

Learn more about how the corridor came to be

The Nations have prepared a summary explaining the work behind the consensus corridor, the priorities that guided it and how it was chosen. [Read the summary]