Mackenzie Valley Environmental Impact Review Board (MVEIRB)

Second in area only to the Mississippi River watershed in North America, the Mackenzie River watershed covers an immense area of western Canada, draining about 20 percent of the country and reaching into five provinces and territories. Gwich’in lands lie near the end of the Mackenzie River system, which means the Gwich’in are affected by activities that occur upstream in other jurisdictions.

Created by Chapter 24 of the Gwich’in modern treaty, the MVEIRB works in the Northwest Territories to conduct environmental assessments and reviews of projects in the Mackenzie River Valley. An equal number of nominees come from Indigenous groups and Government, and at least one member must be nominated by the Gwich’in Tribal Council.

Mackenzie Valley Land and Water Board (MVLWB)

A regulatory authority created by the Mackenzie Valley Resource Management Act (MVRMA) the MVLWB reviews and makes decisions on transboundary projects, ensures consistent application of the MVRMA, and reviews and makes decisions on applications filed in regions where land claims have not been settled.