Łutsel K’e Dene First Nation says it will withhold support for federal major infrastructure projects if it doesn’t receive an apology from the territorial government for a cultural camp raid that happened four years ago.

The N.W.T. government fell under fire in 2022 for what the Łutsel K’e Dene First Nation (LKDFN) calls a “forceful invasion” of a camp on Artillery Lake. Wildlife officers spent hours searching family tents and teepees. The First Nation has said the event left children in tears and elders traumatized.

At the time, the Environment and Natural Resources minister (the department is now called Environment and Climate Change) said the officers were executing a search warrant for illegally harvested caribou within a mobile no-hunting zone that follows the Bathurst caribou herd. That search warrant was later quashed by the N.W.T. Supreme Court.

The investigation remains open despite key evidence being thrown out of court in 2023.

Łutsel K’e Dene First Nation has repeatedly asked for the government to apologize. 

Last month, Łutsel K’e Chief James Marlowe penned a letter to territorial and federal leaders, once again asking for an apology.

In the letter, he said he would withhold support for federal major infrastructure projects in the territory, including the Grays Bay road and port — which would connect to the proposed Arctic security corridor — and the Taltson hydro expansion, if the N.W.T. government does not apologize for the raid.

He also argued that the territory’s current budget doesn’t go far enough to address the needs of his community and called for more support to address housing shortages, health services, winter road access and infrastructure deficits.

“The Government of the Northwest Territories continues to advance its own priorities within our ancestral territories with complete disregard of the rights and interests of LKDFN,” the letter reads.

“If there is going to be no support from the [territory] for addressing any of LKDFN’s priorities, there will be no support from LKDFN for the [territory’s] priorities.”

The story was first reported by NNSL Media.

Marlowe’s letter also says the territory has been unresponsive to requests for an apology and the First Nation has been told “on numerous occasions” that the territory would respond to LKDFN “shortly.”

CBC News asked the N.W.T. government whether that was true. In a statement to CBC News, the territory did not address specifics, but said it is aware of Marlowe’s letter. It said Premier R.J. Simpson intends to respond directly to Marlowe, but did not say when. 

Marlowe’s letter also went to N.W.T. MP, Rebecca Alty. She’s the minister responsible for Crown–Indigenous Relations. 

Alty declined an interview with CBC News.

In a statement to CBC News, Alty’s office said Crown-Indigenous Relations is aware of Łutsël K’é Dene First Nation’s concerns but it would not comment further as the matter is between LKDFN and the territorial government.

‘We can work together to make good things happen’

Beyond an apology comes an overall sentiment of neglect, Marlowe said. He says he isn’t personally against building these major projects either.

“We can work together to make good things happen for our First Nation,” Marlowe said. “All I’m asking for is support.”

Marlowe specifically mentioned a lack of communication from the territory on the Arctic security corridor.

Both the Yellowknives Dene First Nations and the Tłı̨chǫ government have already committed to jointly lead the Arctic economic and security corridor project. Marlowe says that happened without the N.W.T. government properly consulting Łutsel K’e first. 

CBC News asked the territory why Łutsel K’e Dene First Nation was not part of that agreement. It did not specifically address that, but did say the agreement reflects a commitment to advancing the corridor with Indigenous leadership. 

Yellowknives Dene supports calls for apology

Dettah Chief of the Yellowknives Dene First Nation Ernest Betsina says he supports Łutsel K’e’s calls for an apology. 

“I’m really surprised the [territorial government] has not apologized yet. I mean, they basically invaded their space and their camp and interrupted their culture,” Betsina said.

Betsina says what happened to LKDFN in 2022 could have easily happened to his First Nation.

“We certainly want the [N.W.T. government] to be good neighbours to us. So being a good neighbour, I believe [it] should do the right thing and apologize,” he said.

In its statement, the territory notes an independent review is underway to establish a full account of the raid. The timeline for the review is not clear.

“The review is also intended to help identify areas for improvement and support a path forward grounded in reconciliation and a stronger co-management relationship with the Łutsël K’é Dene First Nation,” the statement reads.

“We strongly encourage members of the community to participate so their experiences are heard directly and so we can learn from this together,” it said.