Northwest Territories gov't promises new offers for outstanding land claims

The Northwest Territories and federal governments have committed to make new offers to Indigenous groups on three outstanding land claims in the territory.

The offers are due by the middle of May.

Both governments met with leadership of the Dehcho First Nations, Akaitcho First Nations and Northwest Territory Mtis Nation in Ottawa on Wednesday to discuss roadblocks slowing negotiations.

The challenges were highlighted in two reports authored by special representatives to the minister of Indigenous and Northern Affairs Canada.

The reports were made public on Thursday.

NWT Premier Bob McLeod says more flexibility by governmentsand better communication between Indigenous groups with overlapping land claimswill be key to reaching settlements.

"We acknowledge that the old ways of doing things isn't working. Our government is committed to developing new approaches that will bring these negotiations to a close,"McLeodsaid.

"We think with facilitators, with aggressive work plans, working all togetherwith all the Aboriginal governments and ourselves, we should be able to find a way forward."

The three claims have been at the negotiating table for upwards of 20 years.

The reports suggestfinal agreements or agreements in principle couldbe reached within 18 to 24 months, a timeline McLeod agrees with.

"We will be starting work on thatas soon as we get back North. Some of those discussions have already started with the people thatcame down here [in Ottawa]," McLeod said.

Hurdles to overcome include the size of land packages, subsurface rights to land, financial considerations, and self-governance.

McLeodsaidthe claims are between 85 and 95 per cent complete.