Bill C-27 Receives Royal Assent, Enacting Self-Government Treaty for the Tłegǫ́hłı̨ Got’įnę
On October 8, 2026, Bill C-27 received Royal Assent in Canada, giving legal force to the Final Self-Government Agreement for the Tłegǫ́hłı̨ Got’įnę. The legislation formally recognizes the Tłegǫ́hłı̨ Got’įnę Government as the governing body of the Sahtu Dene and Metis of Norman Wells following 20 years of negotiations.
Bill C-27 received Royal Assent on October 8, 2026, giving legal force to the Final Self-Government Agreement for the Tłegǫ́hłı̨ Got’įnę and establishing it as a Self-Government Treaty. The Tłegǫ́hłı̨ Got’įnę are identified as the Sahtu Dene and Metis of Norman Wells.
The Final Self-Government Agreement was signed on September 18, 2025, following 20 years of negotiations. The agreement affirms the inherent right of self-government, including the authority to make laws, protect language and culture, deliver programs such as education and healthcare, and elect leadership.
The legislation formally recognizes the Tłegǫ́hłı̨ Got’įnę Government as the governing body for the Sahtu Dene and Metis of Norman Wells. It establishes a new government-to-government relationship between the Tłegǫ́hłı̨ Got’įnę, the Government of Canada, and the Government of the Northwest Territories. This provides a legal basis for the community to make decisions supporting their people, strengthen their culture, and grow their economy.
The legislation is aligned with the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples and respects rights outlined in the 1994 Sahtu Dene and Metis Comprehensive Land Claim Agreement. The Tłegǫ́hłı̨ Got’įnę are one of five Indigenous communities in the Sahtu Region.