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Overview

We want your feedback on updates to the Geographical and Community Place Names Policy.

The existing policy is out of date and does not reflect how the Government of the Northwest Territories (GNWT) currently works with Indigenous Governments and the public. These proposed updates will ensure the GNWT’s consistent and clear process for updating geographical and community place names is rooted in national best practices, aligned with the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UN Declaration), and reflects our obligations under historic and modern treaties, including land claims and self-government agreements.

The proposed changes include:

• Aligning with the UN Declaration and the corresponding GNWT implementation legislation
• Respecting place naming under treaties, land claims and self-government agreements
• Clarifying the requirements for consultation with, and seeking input from, Indigenous governments and Indigenous organizations
• Formalizing the current practice of maintaining an up-to-date, online list of official place names
• Authorizing the Minister to create guidelines, and require that guidelines include procedures for requesting and appealing naming decisions
• Providing for commemorative names, based on national guidelines, that will only be considered for persons posthumously, after a minimum of five years
• Prohibiting the introduction of derogatory names