THE CHALLENGE

Fort Smith, situated on the NWT-Alberta border, faces significant environmental and governance challenges shaped by its jurisdictional complexity. The region is home to Smith’s Landing First Nation, Salt River First Nation, the Fort Smith Métis Council, the Town of Fort Smith, the Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalo (Alberta), as well as federal, territorial, and provincial governments—all of which share overlapping jurisdiction.

A key concern is the future of Wood Buffalo National Park (WBNP), the largest national park in Canada and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Environmental threats, such as the potential release of over a trillion liters of decontaminated oil sands tailings into the Athabasca River, pose serious risks to critical ecosystems. Governance challenges also impede progress on local priorities, including securing Aurora College’s future in Fort Smith, transitioning to sustainable energy to combat rising power rates, and developing a conservation-based economy. Tackling these interconnected issues demands stronger collaboration among Indigenous Nations, municipal leaders, and government partners to ensure sustainable solutions for the region.

THE HISTORY

Fort Smith’s history is deeply tied to the region’s waterways and its role as a hub for governance and trade. Situated on the traditional territory of Salt River First Nation, Smith’s Landing First Nation, and the Fort Smith Métis Council, the town was established in 1874 as a Hudson’s Bay Company trading post. Its location at the Slave River’s northern rapids made it a vital portage point, enabling transportation and commerce across the North.

For generations, Indigenous communities have practiced sustainable stewardship of water and land, cultivating a deep respect for the environment. These traditions contrast with modern challenges, including wastewater management issues and administrative orders related to pollutant discharge limits, which reflect the complexities of balancing stewardship with contemporary infrastructure and regulatory standards.

Fort Smith grew into a regional administrative centre and served as the NWT’s territorial capital until 1967. Today, it remains a key governance hub, hosting municipal, federal, territorial, and Indigenous offices. The town is also home to the headquarters of Wood Buffalo National Park (WBNP), Canada’s largest national park and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. This connection underscores Fort Smith’s enduring ties to land and water, positioning it as a critical player in fostering collaboration and sustainable development.

THE LEADERS

From left to right: Michael Miltenberger, Special Adviser for CIER; Thaidene Paulette, Chief of Smith’s Landing; Fred Daniels, Mayor of Fort Smith; Sgt. Cagri Yilmaz; Allan Heron, President of Fort Smith Métis Council; Toni Heron, Chief of Salt River First Nation; N.W.T. MLA Jay Macdonald; Ernie Campbell.

THE CLI ROLE

The CLI team in Fort Smith has provided the impetus and process through which to foster cooperation amongst four governments to address shared challenges related to land, water, infrastructure, education, and other critical areas. Through the CLI process, relationships between governments have been strengthened and the conditions have been established for collaborative governance and coordinated action. The CLI table in Fort Smith has reached Phase 5: Embedding within the System where the CLI table has been fully embedded in local structures with the support of a CIER-funded coordinator. The CLI team continues to provide advisory and training support to the leaders and coordinator in the Town of Fort Smith as they bring their mission and vision to life, as articulated in the Memorandum of Agreement. 

THE MEETINGS

See summaries of the integral meetings that took place at the governance table between the leaders from February 1, 2023 to June 26, 2024.

THE OUTCOME