The Sahtu Dene and Metis Comprehensive Land Claim Agreement was a historically significant agreement signed to formally validate the land claims of the Sahtu Dene and Metis peoples in the Mackenzie Valley of the western Arctic. Spanning an area of 180,000 square kilometres, the agreement not only acknowledged the rights of these Indigenous communities to their traditional lands but also set the stage for self-governance and sustainable development. The signing took place in an environment where Indigenous rights were gaining political traction and recognition in Canada, thanks in part to movements advocating for Indigenous sovereignty and land rights. The agreement included provisions for resource management, environmental protection, and a share of benefits arising from developments in the region, thus facilitating a cooperative relationship between the Indigenous groups and the Canadian government. It was particularly important as it ensued during a time of changing dynamics in Canadian land policies that increasingly recognized Indigenous claims and governance structures.