Tłı̨chǫ Government and the Yellowknives Dene First Nation
Aug 15, 2026
The Yellowknives Dene First Nation and the Tłı̨chǫ Government are pleased to announce that we have reached consensus on a proposed corridor for the Arctic Economic and Security Corridor, a planned all-season road connecting the Northwest Territories to the Nunavut border.
The Arctic Economic and Security Corridor is an Indigenous project co-led by the Yellowknives Dene First Nation and the Tłı̨chǫ Government, in partnership with the Government of the Northwest Territories and with support from the Government of Canada.
Our Nations are sharing the consensus corridor with our citizens and members now, and beginning engagement with our communities, neighbouring Indigenous governments and other interested parties.
The consensus corridor shown in the accompanying map is the result of more than a year of work led by our two Nations, drawing on robust technical and community-led studies informed by Traditional Knowledge and western science. It is a proposed corridor, not a final route. The corridor is roughly 30 kilometres wide, and the precise route within it will be determined through further engineering, environmental and regulatory work still to come.
Shared priorities guided the decision. Caribou was a top priority, as well as 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 consensus corridor reflects these.
"Our two Nations came to this together, guided by the same values and priorities. Protecting caribou and building a future for our people were our top priorities. We chose this corridor to reduce the harm to caribou as much as we can, knowing a road in the barrenlands will still have impacts we must manage. Reaching it took compromise and respect. It is exciting to show Canada how we can lead and design major projects as Indigenous nations. Next, we are looking forward to hearing from our citizens and other Indigenous groups now that we have a project defined." - Grand Chief Jackson Lafferty, Tłı̨chǫ Government
"Protecting our livelihood, in terms of the caribou, and providing prosperity for the future generations are our priorities. Together with the Tłı̨chǫ Government, we have come to a consensus on a corridor to Nunavut which puts our shared priorities at the forefront. This is a proposed corridor, not a final road, and that matters. Work does not end with identifying a corridor—it begins with listening, learning, and working together. Now we turn to our members and our neighbours. The strongest outcomes will come from bringing our knowledge, perspectives, and priorities together, and from ensuring that the people most affected have a meaningful voice in what comes next and that mitigations to protect the water, lands and wildlife are carefully thought through. What people tell us in the weeks and months ahead will help shape the path forward. This is the start of an important conversation—not the end of it—and by working together, we can build a stronger outcome for our communities and for the future." - Chief Ernest Betsina and Chief Fred Sangris, Yellowknives Dene First Nation
Reaching consensus was not simple. Both Nations entered discussions with shared priorities and different perspectives on the corridor options. The consensus corridor is perhaps not the pathway either would have arrived at on its own. We came together for the greater good of our Nations, Indigenous people and the Northwest Territories. It shows that Indigenous Nations can work together to resolve complex regional questions through respectful dialogue, technical evidence and shared stewardship.
The corridor was drawn to reduce impacts on the most sensitive caribou habitat and key migration routes, informed by both Traditional Knowledge and scientific study. It connects to strong mineral potential and opens opportunities for communities across the region. It offers the opportunity for year-round connectivity to Wekweètì, a remote community, and connection to Gamètì remains a priority for the Tłı̨chǫ Government. Together, these reflect the balance the Nations set out to strike.
The route is not final. Engagement with communities and with neighbouring Indigenous governments is taking place and will continue as the work advances. The proposed corridor may change as that engagement and further review continue.
Media contacts:
Tłı̨chǫ Government: media@tlicho.ca
Yellowknives Dene First Nation: ykdfnmedia@ykdene.com
The Nations have prepared a summary explaining the work behind the consensus corridor, the priorities that guided it and how it was chosen: