The Gwich’in live in the Mackenzie River delta, in Northwest Territories. The Gwich’in modern treaty, officially titled the Gwich’in Comprehensive Land Claim Agreement (GCLCA), came into effect in 1992 and covers 22,422 km².

Environmental Protection

One of the 10 overarching objectives of the Gwich’in modern treaty is: “To protect and conserve the wildlife and environment of the settlement area for present and future generations”. Other sections related to environmental protection include:

• Sections 13 on Forestry and 14 on Plants state that the Gwich’in right to harvest trees is subject to legislation in respect of “protection of the environment from significant damage.”
• Section 20 on Access states that access to Gwich’in land may be restricted “by reason of protection of the environment.”
• Section 21 on Subsurface Resources states that before oil and gas exploration can take place, consultations shall be held with respect to “environmental impact of the activity and mitigative measures.”
• Section 24 on Land and Water Regulation requires “a method of monitoring the cumulative impact of land and water uses on the environment in the Mackenzie Valley, and for periodic, independent, environmental audits.”

Section 24 also mandates the establishment of an Environmental Impact Review Board for the Mackenzie Valley and requires that all development proposals in the Mackenzie Valley “be subject to the process of environmental impact and review.”

Also in Section 24 is the establishment of a Land and Water Board “to provide for conservation, development and utilization” of land and water resources.