Gwich'in council leaders say Town of Inuvik excluding them from community decisions

The president of the Nihtat Gwich'in Council in Inuvik, N.W.T., said he wants to see more effort from the Town of Inuvik when it comes to including the Gwich'in leadership in decision making in the community.

Inuvik lies in the Gwich'in Settlement Area and the Nihtat Gwich'in Council is part of the Gwich'in Tribal Council. 

Kelly McLeod, president of the Nihtat Gwich'in Council, said he has concerns with the way the municipality lays out its community plan and zoning. He said because Inuvik is in Gwich'in territory, his council should have more involvement in the town planning process. 

"We've been dealing with a number of important issues and over the past few months it's escalated — and we hope the Town of Inuvik changes its position on these matters," said McLeod.

"Inuvik is a very diverse and multicultural community. It is a shared community, but we are rights-holders, we're not just stakeholders."

McLeod says the Town of Inuvik has not been properly respecting the rights of Gwich'in.

'Negative energy never does anything,' mayor says

Inuvik Mayor Peter Clarkson said he wants to improve communication with McLeod and the Nihtat Gwich'in Council, saying he wishes it "wasn't so negative."

"Negative energy never does anything for a community. We need to come together and work together as an entire community and that's where everyone comes together and works as an equal partner," said Clarkson.

In December, the town launched a new initiative to bring stakeholders in the community together to inform each other of what is happening. The Inuvik Leadership Council group started meeting in December 2024 and is composed of town representatives, local Indigenous governments, and MLAs.

Clarkson said all levels of Indigenous and non-Indigenous leadership get input into the community.

Nihtat is part of the Inuvik Leadership Council and McLeod has attended a couple of its meetings since it was launched in December. But he also wants more clarity about roles and responsibilities before Nihtat signs on to the group's memorandum of agreement.

The mayor sent a letter on behalf of the town to Nihtat on Thursday, saying Nihtat's position was "disappointing." Clarkson also suggests that Nihtat leaders had misunderstood the purpose and nature of the Inuvik Leadership Council, which he said is about "sharing information and working together on common issues or concerns and supporting each other."

McLeod says the Nihtat Gwich'in Council will review the town's letter before responding.

McLeod says the issue is about reconciliation.

"With respect to reconciliation, it's not just a word — it's a commitment. We are more than happy to sit at the tables and have the tough discussions we need to have," he said. 

"The days that we're disrespected on our settlement lands are coming to an end."