Engagement

Engagement at the Heart of the AESC

The AESC is being shaped through ongoing dialogue with Tłı̨chǫ citizens, Yellowknives Dene members, neighbouring Indigenous Nations, and partner governments. Engagement is not a single event. It is a continuous process that informs every stage of the project — from route selection to environmental assessment to long-term planning.

Now that the Tłı̨chǫ Government and the Yellowknives Dene First Nation have identified a proposed corridor, engagement is taking place with citizens, members, neighbouring Indigenous governments, and interested parties. What people share in the weeks and months ahead will help shape the path forward.

Our Approach

Engagement is led by Tłı̨chǫ Government and Yellowknives Dene First Nation with their own citizens and members.
Traditional Knowledge from Elders and Knowledge Holders informs project planning and design.
Feedback is documented and reflected back to communities.
Engagement is ongoing — not a one-time event.

Engagement to Date

Since 2024, the Yellowknives Dene First Nation and the Tłı̨chǫ Government have been engaging with their citizens, members, and neighbouring Indigenous governments on the AESC.

Tłı̨chǫ Government Engagement with its Members

The Tłı̨chǫ Government has established two citizen-led committees to guide its participation in the AESC:

Traditional Knowledge Committee — with citizens from the four Tłı̨chǫ communities, providing Traditional Knowledge to inform route selection, environmental considerations, and project planning.

Socio-Economic Committee — with Tłı̨chǫ citizens from the four communities and Yellowknife, evaluating opportunities, risks, and benefits of the project.

Both committees meet regularly and provide detailed input on impacts, benefits, options, and mitigations. Community meetings have been held in each of the four Tłı̨chǫ communities and in Yellowknife, with further meetings planned.

Yellowknives Dene First Nation Engagement with its Members

The Yellowknives Dene First Nation has established a Community Working Group to bring member perspectives directly into project planning, with a focus on route selection. YKDFN is supported by a community engagement specialist to organize Traditional Knowledge materials, develop plain-language documents and maps, and host working group meetings and public engagement sessions with members.

Engagement with YKDFN members is ongoing through community gatherings, working group meetings, and direct dialogue with leadership.

Engagement with Neighbouring Indigenous Governments

Now that a proposed corridor has been identified, the Yellowknives Dene First Nation, the Tlicho Government, and the Government of the Northwest Territories are engaging directly with neighbouring Indigenous governments and organizations whose interests may be connected to the project. This engagement is grounded in government-to-government relationships, early and open information sharing and two-way dialogue.

This engagement is separate from the Government of the Northwest Territories' Duty to Consult, which the GNWT will carry out at the appropriate time.

This page will be updated as engagement continues.

Submit a Question or Comment

If you have questions, comments, or feedback about the AESC, we invite you to reach out.