N.W.T. aboriginal groups get 1st payments from devolution's resource revenue
Tlicho receive nearly $1M share of revenues from mining, oil and gas
Nine aboriginal groups in the N.W.T. are getting their first taste of devolution money this month, with one group seeing nearly $1 million from the deal.
Under the devolution agreement, the territorial government agreed to share up to 25 per cent of the N.W.T.'s resource revenues — money collected from the profits of oil and gas and mining companies, plus other taxes.
Eddie Erasmus, the grand chief of the Tlicho Government, says his government received $912,000 from the territorial government for the fiscal year 2014-15.
He says that money went directly into the Tlicho Government's $23-million budget and helped fund on-the-land traditional knowledge programs, the government's annual gathering, 10th anniversary celebrations for the Tlicho Agreement, and scholarships.
"We have a budget of $22 million and now this is a million dollars on top of that," Erasmus said.
Less than expected
Erasmus said his government's share was less than initially hoped for but not surprising given economic slowdowns elsewhere in the country.
"Every year it's not going to be the same. Next year it could be better."
In February, the territorial government lowered its estimate of the N.W.T.'s total resource revenues (before payments to aboriginal groups) to $40 million from $60 million.
The territorial government would not confirm what its own share of 2014-15 resource revenues (after payments to aboriginal governments) actually came to. The government said the figure will be disclosed in a report this fall.
The other groups that received resource revenue payments from the government are the Inuvialuit Regional Corporation, the Northwest Territory Métis Nation, Sahtu Secretariat Incorporated, Gwich'in Tribal Council, Salt River First Nation, Deninu Kue First Nation, Acho Dene Koe First Nation and the K'atlodeeche First Nation.
How the money is split among the groups is determined by "population and a regional average for cost of living," according to the territorial government.
The Dehcho and Akaitcho First Nations are the only two major groups that have not signed on to the devolution deal.