Thebacha Leadership Council aims for strength in unity in Fort Smith, N.W.T.

The first collaborative effort by the newly-formed Thebacha Leadership Council (TLC) in Fort Smith, N.W.T., is being called a big success.

In June 2024, four local governments, and the MLA for the region, came together to form the council. Leaders of the Salt River First Nation, Smith's Landing First Nation, Fort Smith Métis Council, MLA Jay Macdonald and the Town of Fort Smith all signed a memorandum of agreement with the commitment to work together for the betterment of the community. 

Earlier this month, the TLC held its inaugural event in Fort Smith: the Northern Whooping Crane Festival. Mike Couvrette, coordinator for the TLC, said there was "excellent feedback" about the event.

"The public raved about it," he said. "It was a good demonstration what this community and its people could do when we work together."

Beyond the festival, the TLC is working on long-term plans to help the community grow. These plans include focusing on the local economy, health and social services, and the housing shortage.

Couvrette says the TLC will look at setting guidelines for different levels of governments to advocate for more housing development and incentive programs.

When it comes to economic development in the community of just under 2,500 people, he said the TLC is ready to take a more aggressive stance on potential future territorial budget cuts. 

The territory faced criticism earlier this year when it announced plans to close the Fort Smith Correctional Complex as a cost-cutting measure. Closing the men's unit of the jail was expected to save the territory $2.7 million.

That decision was later reversed.

"We feel that Fort Smith has already paid enough. Go shopping elsewhere," Couvrette said.

He says the TLC is about "breaking new ground."

"This is the first time a group like ours has moved beyond just signing an agreement," he said. "We're excited to work together on common goals."

The group now wants to incorporate, and secure long-term funding to move forward as a collaborative government for the community. That also involves working collectively on the vision and mandate for the council.

Right now, the council is funded by the Centre for Indigenous Environmental Resources (CIER).The national organization also played a key role in helping the TLC get off the ground, in a process that started in 2018.

Michael Miltenberger is a former MLA and mayor of Fort Smith, and a special advisor for CIER. He said the TLC is essential for bringing leaders together to work on major issues that require collaboration, such as economic development and environmental challenges.

"There are things the leaders can only solve together, and in this day and age, that kind of political commitment is absolutely important," he said.

Miltenberger says events like the Northern Whooping Crane Festival have huge potential to bring tourism and economic opportunities.

"In [Port] Aransas, Texas, they have a $5-million-a-year industry tied just around the whooping crane," he said. "We need to hook those two ends of the flight path together and start creating an industry."

Miltenberger said he and CIER are pleased with the work that the TLC has accomplished so far.

"They're breaking trail," he said. 

"The word is out that there's a political door in Fort Smith to come through now, not four or five," he said. "They're in line and they're coordinated, they're tied together on resolving these issues."