Resource revenue sharing nets $6.3M for N.W.T. aboriginal groups
9 who signed on to devolution were initially projected to share $15M this year
The territorial government's devolution sales pitch to First Nations, Inuit and Métis was overly optimistic.
The government initially projected resource revenues would generate $15 million for aboriginal groups who signed on to devolution during the last fiscal year. In March, they downgraded that estimate to $10 million, after lowering the estimated resource revenues the territory would collect in 2014-2015.
According to numbers recently released by the government, the amount paid to aboriginal governments who had signed on to devolution turned out to be just $6.3 million.
Mining and oil and gas companies doing business in the Northwest Territories paid a total of $72.5 million in royalties in 2014-15.
Only a third of that stayed in the territory. After payments to aboriginal groups, the territorial government's share was $19 million.
The money is split 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.
Resource Revenue Sharing payments 2014-15
| Acho Dene Koe First Nation | $169,621 |
| Deninu Kue First Nation | $214,785 |
| Gwich'in Tribal Council | $1,066,164 |
| Inuvialuit Regional Corporation | $1,636,919 |
| Kátł'odeeche First Nation | $118,706 |
| Northwest Territory Métis Nation | $565,846 |
| Sahtu Secretariat Inc. | $1,204,041 |
| Salt River First Nation | $225,890 |
| Tłįcho Government | $1,094,308 |
Source: N.W.T. Department of Finance.