Màhsi’.

Drin gwiinzii. Good afternoon, Mr. Chair and honourable committee members.

My name is Ken Kyikavichik, and I'm the grand chief of the Gwich'in Tribal Council of the Northwest Territories and Yukon.

Gwich'in Tribal Council, or GTC for short, was established in 1992 with the signing of the Gwich'in Comprehensive Land Claim Agreement. We work in collaboration with the governments of Canada, the Northwest Territories and the Yukon in implementing this modern-day treaty for our over 3,500 participants who reside across this country. Our communities are located in the Mackenzie delta region of the Northwest Territories and are known today as Aklavik; Inuvik; Tetl'it Zheh, or Fort McPherson as it's now known; and Tsiigehtchic.

I would like to thank you for the opportunity to speak to the committee on tax revenues on first nations territories. This is an important issue and an opportunity that impacts the economic development and self-sufficiency of our region.

Today I would like to raise a few points for your consideration as you undertake this study. First are the distinctions between modern treaty holders, such as the Gwich'in Tribal Council and first nations on reserve, for example, in southern Canada. Second is the Gwich'in interest in establishing tax-free zones both within our Gwich'in settlement region and in areas where we decide to invest. Third is the role that tax revenues can play in achieving economic reconciliation.

For a bit more context, the Gwich'in were signatories to the last numbered treaty in Canada, Treaty 11, which was signed in our communities of Tsiigehtchic and Tetl'it Zheh in July 1921. At the time, many of us were known as Locheux Indians. We lived a nomadic, subsistence lifestyle in our traditional territory, supplementing our living by participating in the fur industry.

Treaty 11 was the only treaty in Canada that did not create reserves for the Dene of the Northwest Territories. The only reserves in the Northwest Territories today are located in Treaty 8 territory in the South Slave region near Hay River and Fort Smith.

I'm back to my first point that it is crucial to recognize the distinct circumstances and needs of the various indigenous groups and nations across Canada. First nations in the Prairies, for example, face unique challenges compared to non-treaty first nations in areas such as B.C. and modern treaty holders in the north such as the Gwich'in. Each of us has differing legal, social and economic contexts that must be considered when discussing tax revenues and economic policy. Métis and non-status indigenous peoples face their own challenges, as you are well aware, particularly related to recognition and access to programs and services.

Second, the Gwich'in Tribal Council is interested in establishing tax-free zones within our Gwich'in settlement region and in other locations where we have participants located in cities such as Yellowknife, Whitehorse and Edmonton. These would be tax-free zones and not reserves. It is an important delineation here. It would provide tax benefits to our citizens and businesses and create opportunities for us to invest in southern centres.

Finally, we are also seeking the ability to impose sales and excise taxes on non-indigenous citizens who may utilize our businesses. Our potential future government would then be able to invest back into our communities to improve the infrastructure and services that we provide. This would directly allow for some wealth redistribution to reduce our current reliance on federal funding to provide the infrastructure, programming and services that we offer. It would be a critical step towards the achievement of economic reconciliation.

Whether it is economic development or protection of our lands and essential resources such as the Porcupine caribou, upholding the rights and the interests of the Gwich'in has been and will continue to be our priority.

To be a truly sovereign nation, our nations, our language, our traditions, lands and resources need to be governed in a fulsome and responsible manner. We believe that potential tax revenues and tax exemptions that are afforded to other levels of government at the current time, whether it is in a self-governing environment or not, will help us achieve this. In order to be effective, such legislation must recognize the jurisdictional difference between indigenous nations, the complementary role that tax-free zones for indigenous businesses and governments can play, and the ability of indigenous governments to implement sales and excise taxes on non-residents accessing these services as a means to enhance these programs and services into the future.

While the study on tax revenues is positive, like anything, the true measure of success will be in its implementation and its applicability to such northern nations as the Gwich'in.

Hài'. Thank you for your time and the opportunity to present today.