Economic futures in the Sahtu region

The temporary nature of the oil economy in Norman Wells is already in The majority of the NWT’s natural gas and crude oil evidence as the depletion of natural gas resources and production comes from Norman Wells. [...] Three co-management and being promoted by the NWT government as holding boards in the region work with communities, govern- great promise.9 ment, and industry to manage the land and resources: the Sahtú Renewable Resources Board (SRRB), Sahtu Land However, debate about the costs and benefits of resource and Water Board (SLWB), and Sahtu Land Use Planning extraction is not new to the Sahtu Region. [...] In the case of the Marcellus shale play in the eastern The boom and bust nature of oil and gas begs the ques- United States, jobs and economic benefits were found to tion, not just of how many jobs are created, but for how have leaked out of the local economy at a high rate. [...] The GNWT (2000) tracked the social impacts of develop- ment in communities affected by the Beaufort Delta oil Experience elsewhere and in the NWT suggests that there and gas developments of the 1970s, the construction are considerable risks in relying on oil and gas develop- of the Norman Wells to Zama pipeline, and the Ekati ment for the Sahtu Region. [...] Through this program, the government Aboriginal Tourism Engagement Strategy (Northways purchases hides and furs from hunters and trappers in 2010) identifies opportunities for investing and building the NWT, and sells them to arts and crafts producers at the tourism sector including addressing capacity issues, the same price as it cost to purchase the furs and hides particularly the capacity to de