Honouring treaty obligations: Indigenous representation in the public service – NNSL Media
The Dene Nation must take proactive steps to ensure employment equity within the Northwest Territories public service. While the territorial government asserts that it serves the people, the current makeup of its bureaucracy reveals alarming gaps in meaningful representation for Indigenous peoples.
As the administration expands, we must ask: why does the number of Indigenous employees remain disproportionately low? The Government of the Northwest Territories (GNWT) must be held accountable — true representation is not merely a policy goal; it is an essential treaty obligation.
For those governed by Treaties 8 and 11, our rights are fundamental and we refuse to be classified merely as “stakeholders.” We are rights holders, and our essential role in governance must be acknowledged and respected. The GNWT’s failure to fulfill its fiduciary duty to Indigenous peoples is not simply a missed opportunity; it represents a significant barrier to inclusion and equity.
