A new agreement assures shared decision-making concerning oil and gas rights in Canada’s Western Arctic – Tariuq (Offshore).

It’s the first of its kind with an Indigenous government as a full party.

It was signed last Thursday in Inuvik.

The signatories are Duane Ningaqsiq Smith, the Inuvialuit Regional Corp. chair and chief executive officer; Dan Vandal, the minister of Northern Affairs and Minister responsible for PrairiesCan and CanNor; Northwest Territories Premier Caroline Cochrane; and Yukon Premier Ranj Pillai.

The signing event was cut short due to heavy smoke in Inuvik, which caused poor air quality and concerns of reduced visibility for flights.

The accord ensures that the Inuvialuit, along with residents of the Yukon and the Northwest Territories, are the primary beneficiaries of economic activity from any oil and gas development in their regions.

Once implemented in legislation, the accord will establish an oil and gas co-management and revenue-sharing arrangement with the Inuvialuit Regional Corp. and the two territories for the accord area.

Recognizing the climate leadership of Indigenous and territorial governments in the North and their commitments to develop cleaner, renewable energy, this agreement provides a blueprint for responsible clean energy co-operation in the future, the signatories said in a 
 joint statement.

The accord advances Canada’s implementation of the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples by supporting the meaningful participation by Indigenous peoples in decision-making over lands, territories, resources and inclusive economic development.

The federal government will collaborate with the parties to implement the accord in federal legislation “at the earliest opportu-nity,” the statement said.

“Inuvialuit have long been sidelined from participation in the management of offshore oil and gas exploration and development in the Western Arctic,” Smith said.

“Today, this comes to an end. Under this accord, Inuvialuit are now equal partners in decision-making about resource development in the offshore areas of our homeland.

“This accord recognizes the paramountcy of our Inuvialuit rights under the IFA and ensures that a share of resource revenues, opportunities and benefits rightfully flow to Inuvialuit communities,” Smith added.

“This is an important step in our continuing journey toward self-determination and reconciliation.”

Vandal said Indigenous peoples and northerners “must have a voice in deciding how resource development should be permitted and managed where they live.

“This historic accord provides for full partnership in decision-making, which is essential as we all move forward with economic reconciliation.

“I am truly honoured today to join with partners in Inuvik to sign the Western Arctic – Tariuq (Offshore) Accord,” Vandal said.

The signing of the accord fulfills Ottawa’s commitments on lands and resources devolution, as well as under the 1993 Canada-Yukon Oil and Gas Accord, to negotiate an offshore oil and gas co-management and revenue-sharing agreement with the Inuvialuit Regional Corp. and the two territories.

“Northerners need to be full partners and decision-makers in the Arctic offshore,” Cochrane said.

“This accord is a positive step towards ensuring that the Northwest Territories will have direct involvement in important decisions that affect the Western Arctic – Tariuq (Offshore) alongside Canada, the Yukon and the Inuvialuit Regional Corporation.”

The accord establishes a full and equal role for the Inuvialuit Regional Corp. to participate in, and directly benefit from, any Arctic offshore oil and gas development in the offshore Inuvialuit Settlement Region.

“The accord is a major milestone for offshore oil and gas co-management in Canada’s offshore areas,” the joint statement said.

The Yukon government, said Pillai, “supports a strong, sustain-able and viable Arctic economy and the protection of the Arctic’s ecosystem.

“I am pleased that with our partners today, we have finalized shared responsibilities in managing resource development and environ-mental protection matters in waters off our northern coast.

“Northerners must be involved in decision-making matters about the North.”

The federal government’s 2022 budget has provided $2.5 million over five years for the Inuvialuit Regional Corp. to participate in the implementation and administration of the accord.