The Western Arctic – Tariuq (Offshore) Accord: A Long Time Coming

Abstract

On 10 August 2023, representatives of the Inuvialuit Regional Corporation and the governments of the Northwest Territories, Yukon, and Canada signed the Western Arctic–Tariuq (Offshore) Accord.¹ The Accord establishes a system for the shared management and regulation of offshore petroleum resources north of the Arctic Circle, west of Nunavut to the limit of Canada’s jurisdiction in the Beaufort Sea and Arctic Ocean and the equitable sharing of benefits. Upon the consent of all Parties, implementing legislation will be introduced to establish the Accord and will, among other things, amend or replace relevant federal legislation. The Accord is a step towards Canada’s implementation of the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples.² It is also part of a quest for meaningful participation dating back to the initial activities concerning oil and gas in the region that fuelled negotiations leading to the Inuvialuit Final Agreement. This contribution situates the Accord in the context of these developments to illuminate its potential significance.