The City of Yellowknife supports reconciliation with Indigenous Peoples and continues to explore new ways of working together through respectful partnership.

The City values its relations with Indigenous Peoples, governments, agencies and institutions in the Northwest Territories and works to be respectful of traditions, cultures and ways of being. Reconciliation is a core value that Council continues to champion and uphold. As the Capital, we are a crossroads for Indigenous Peoples and groups from across the north.

Our community has a large Indigenous population representing all areas of the Northwest Territories and beyond - about 24% of City residents are Indigenous. In particular, our partnerships with neighbouring Indigenous governments, including the Yellowknives Dene First Nation, Tlicho, North Slave Métis Alliance and others, are a key priority for the City.

At a meeting on November 3, 2025, the Governance and Priorities Committee discussed a memorandum regarding whether to direct Administration to commence engagement with Indigenous partners on the recommendations to advance Reconciliation set out in the “ Walking Forward Together: Yellowknife’s Reconciliation Roadmap Report ”.

On November 10, 2025 Council directed Administration to commence engagement with Indigenous partners on the recommendations to advance Reconciliation set out in the Reconciliation Roadmap Report.

Initiatives 

In the spirit of reconciliation, other actions the City has undertaken include the following:

  • We fly the Yellowknives Dene First Nation (YKDFN) and North Slave Metis Alliance (NSMA) flags at City Hall, along with the Canadian, NWT and City flags;
  • Memorandum of Understanding with the Yellowknives Dene First Nation on relationships and services;
  • Regular Council to Council meetings with YKDFN and regular meetings between the Mayor/Chiefs, and senior staff (CEO and City Manager);
  • Collaboration with YKDFN on:
    • the boundary between our two communities – a ground-breaking approach which involved our two communities exploring interests and reaching an agreement before we jointly submitted to the GNWT
    • Community Economic Development Initiative (CEDI) – joint economic development partnership sponsored by CANDO and the Federation of Canadian Municipalities
    • NAKA Festival – to celebrate the aurora. The inaugural festival took place in February 2019
    • Hockey Day In Canada
  • Regular engagement with the North Slave Metis Alliance (NSMA);
  • Collaboration with YKDFN and NSMA on securing a safe, clean source of water for our communities for the water submarine line replacement from the mouth of the Yellowknife River
  • Intercultural Heritage & Place-making Plan – implementation in 2020 Support for Urban Hide Tanning
  • Elder in residence at the Library
  • Land tenure for the Arctic Indigenous Wellness Foundations (AIWF) healing camp on City-owned land
  • Supporting healing and wellness programming at the AIWF healing camp
  • Training for all City employees on the history and legacy of residential schools
  • Yellowknives Dene First Nation City of Yellowknife Joint Economic Development Strategy and Background Report
  • Making our stop signs bilingual
  • Partnering with YKDFN on changes to Canada Day to respect and honour the Indigenous experience in Canada
  • Establishing kiosks around town, highlighting YKDFN heritage and culture sites
  • Advocating for the advancement of TRC recommendation #82 (establish a monument to honour Survivors and all the children who were lost to their families and communities)
  • Prioritizing reconciliation in the strategic priorities for Municipal Enforcement, which has seen tangible progress through staffing, training and policy implementation
  • Collaborating with the YKDFN to rename the lakes in Yellowknife based on YKDFN interests/traditions
  • Supporting the Strong People, Strong Communities initiative, financially and in kind, on the development and placement of murals, two of which are placed on City buildings ‐ the Fieldhouse and the Home Base building (former Mine Rescue Building).
  • Signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the North Slave Métis Alliance to launch a comprehensive copper recycling program

The City of Yellowknife continues to seek ways to implement reconciliation through a Reconciliation Framework and Reconciliation Action Plan. We seek ideas and input from Indigenous governments, organizations and partners as well as residents and others who see ways to strengthen how Indigenous ways of being are recognized and honoured. Please forward any ideas to @email.

Resources