Legislative Assembly of Northwest Territories
Encyclopedia
The Legislative Assembly of the Northwest Territories
or Legislative Council of the Northwest Territories, Canada
, is located in Yellowknife
. The Assembly is a unicameral elected body that creates and amends law in the Northwest Territories. The Assembly was founded in 1870 and became active in 1872 with the first appointments from the Government of Canada.
Under the Northwest Territories Act the Assembly is officially defined under federal law as Legislative Council. However under Northwest Territories territorial law, it is defined as Legislative Assembly. Under different periods of its history it has alternated names.
and was created in 1870. The first appointments to the council were made on December 28, 1872. The Temporary Council was dissolved in 1876 and a new permanent council was appointed and moved to the new capital of Fort Livingstone
in 1876. The council moved to Battleford a year later based on the planned location of the Canadian Pacific Railway
.
The very first election to the Assembly would take place on March 23, 1881 as Lawrence Clarke
was elected to represent the electoral district of Lorne
. In 1883 the Assembly moved south to Regina
based on amendments to the route of the railway. The first territory-wide election took place on September 15, 1885 known as the 1885 Northwest Territories
election.
Three years later the first general election
took place. All the voting members of the Assembly were elected for the first time, and an elected speaker took office. The Lieutenant Governor still had executive authority however and appointed and ran the cabinet. After the second general election in 1891
the first fully elected Assembly without any appointed members. The Assembly achieved Responsible Government
for the first time in October 1897 as the Lieutenant Governor appointed Frederick Haultain
as the first Premier to form a government. Robert Brett
became the first Leader of the official opposition and party lines were roughly drawn based on Conservatives and Liberals.
The Haultain government lobbied for Government of Canada
for provincial powers for the Northwest Territories. In response on September 1, 1905 the provinces of Alberta
and Saskatchewan
were created by Prime Minister Wilfrid Laurier
out of the southern populated portion of the territories.
from 1876 until the creation of the Supreme Court of the Northwest Territories
in 1887. Appointed members of the council served as Stipendiary Magistrates would travel the territories and oversee legal cases when the Legislature was not sitting. In 1887 the Northwest Territories moved to a new system that assigned Judges to judicial districts and separated the legal and judicial branches.
Frederick White
was appointed as the first Commissioner and did not recall the council to sit during his time in office. The first session of the 2nd Council of the Northwest Territories
took place in 1921. The council members were bureaucrats appointed from the Interior Ministry and were not resident citizens of the territory. In 1947 The first Northwest Territories resident since 1905 was appointed to the council. John G. McNiven
was appointed to represent Yellowknife. McNiven was also the first member appointed to the council from north of the 60th parallel.
In 1951 the council held its first general election in 49 years. The fifth general election
elected three members from the District of Mackenzie
. The old council was completely dissolved and five members were appointed along with the three elected representatives.
The council gained more powers back from the federal government as the population in the territory grew. In 1967 the Carrothers Commission
moved the territorial capital from Ottawa to Yellowknife
and for the first time elected members represented all parts of the territories. In 1975 the Legislative Assembly became fully elected, and the first elected speaker David Searle
, since 1905 presided over the Assembly.
gave up his powers of running the executive council and appointed George Braden
as leader of the Government and the first Premier since 1905. The model of responsible government that was used this time around was known as Consensus government. The executive council or cabinet forms government while all the regular members form an unofficial opposition.
The modern Consensus Government model is inherently non-partisan and serves effectively as a constant minority government. The Legislature uses this model up to the current day.
The building that has housed the Northwest Territories Legislative Assembly has changed many times since it was founded. The first building was the original Manitoba Legislature in Fort Garry. After the council moved to Fort Livingstone it was housed in the Swan River Barracks used by the North-West Mounted Police
.
The first building built for the needs of the Assembly was NWT Government House in Battleford. That building also served as a residence for the Lieutenant Governor. In 1883 the Assembly moved to Regina. The Territorial Administration building was built to accommodate the growing Assembly and used until 1905.
After the creation of Alberta and Saskatchewan, the capital was moved to Ottawa and the council sessions took place in an office building on Sparks Street
. When the council sessions returned to the territories, they were held in any infrastructure suitable as they traveled from community to community.
After the capital was moved to Yellowknife in 1967 a temporary site for the Legislative Assembly was used until the new Legislature building was finished in 1993. The design of the current Legislature building was created by Pin/Taylor Architects company from Yellowknife.
. It is the 25th sitting of the territorial assembly since 1870.
The territories has fixed election date legislation that ensures elections are held every four years on the first Monday in October.
The most recent general election, which was the 22nd general election
was held on October 3, 2011. The legislature since 1905 is a non-partisan body and all members run and sit as independents.
.
Northwest Territories
The Northwest Territories is a federal territory of Canada.Located in northern Canada, the territory borders Canada's two other territories, Yukon to the west and Nunavut to the east, and three provinces: British Columbia to the southwest, and Alberta and Saskatchewan to the south...
or Legislative Council of the Northwest Territories, Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
, is located in Yellowknife
Yellowknife, Northwest Territories
Yellowknife is the capital and largest city of the Northwest Territories , Canada. It is located on the northern shore of Great Slave Lake, approximately south of the Arctic Circle, on the west side of Yellowknife Bay near the outlet of the Yellowknife River...
. The Assembly is a unicameral elected body that creates and amends law in the Northwest Territories. The Assembly was founded in 1870 and became active in 1872 with the first appointments from the Government of Canada.
Under the Northwest Territories Act the Assembly is officially defined under federal law as Legislative Council. However under Northwest Territories territorial law, it is defined as Legislative Assembly. Under different periods of its history it has alternated names.
Early history
The Legislative Assembly was first known as the Temporary North-West CouncilTemporary North-West Council
The Temporary North-West Council more formally known as the Council of the Northwest Territories and by its short name as the North-West Council lasted from the creation of Northwest Territories, Canada, in 1870 until it was dissolved in 1876...
and was created in 1870. The first appointments to the council were made on December 28, 1872. The Temporary Council was dissolved in 1876 and a new permanent council was appointed and moved to the new capital of Fort Livingstone
Fort Livingstone, Saskatchewan
Fort Livingstone was founded as an outpost in Northwest Territories, Canada.The outpost briefly served as the capital city for North-West Territories government for the years of 1874 to 1876, and headquarters for the North-West Mounted Police for the same period, until they moved headquarters to...
in 1876. The council moved to Battleford a year later based on the planned location of the Canadian Pacific Railway
Canadian Pacific Railway
The Canadian Pacific Railway , formerly also known as CP Rail between 1968 and 1996, is a historic Canadian Class I railway founded in 1881 and now operated by Canadian Pacific Railway Limited, which began operations as legal owner in a corporate restructuring in 2001...
.
The very first election to the Assembly would take place on March 23, 1881 as Lawrence Clarke
Lawrence Clarke
Lawrence Clarke was the Chief Factor of the District of Saskatchewan for the Hudson's Bay Company. He resided at Fort Carlton in Canada. He later became a magistrate...
was elected to represent the electoral district of Lorne
Lorne (N.W.T. electoral district)
Lorne was an electoral district that existed in the District of Saskatchewan, Northwest Territories from 1880 until 1888. The district was one of the first three created by Royal Proclamation in 1880...
. In 1883 the Assembly moved south to Regina
Regina, Saskatchewan
Regina is the capital city of the Canadian province of Saskatchewan. The city is the second-largest in the province and a cultural and commercial centre for southern Saskatchewan. It is governed by Regina City Council. Regina is the cathedral city of the Roman Catholic and Romanian Orthodox...
based on amendments to the route of the railway. The first territory-wide election took place on September 15, 1885 known as the 1885 Northwest Territories
Northwest Territories election, 1885
The Northwest Territories election of 1885 was the first major election in the history of the territory. The election took place on 15 September 1885....
election.
Three years later the first general election
Northwest Territories general election, 1888
The Northwest Territories general election of 1888 was the first general election in the history of the Northwest Territories, Canada. Elections were held in various districts between 20 June and 30 June 1888...
took place. All the voting members of the Assembly were elected for the first time, and an elected speaker took office. The Lieutenant Governor still had executive authority however and appointed and ran the cabinet. After the second general election in 1891
Northwest Territories general election, 1891
The Northwest Territories general election of 1891 was held on 7 November 1891 to elect twenty five members of the Legislative Assembly of the Northwest Territories, Canada. It was the second general election in the Northwest Territories' history. The legislature gained three seats, and six new...
the first fully elected Assembly without any appointed members. The Assembly achieved Responsible Government
Responsible government
Responsible government is a conception of a system of government that embodies the principle of parliamentary accountability which is the foundation of the Westminster system of parliamentary democracy...
for the first time in October 1897 as the Lieutenant Governor appointed Frederick Haultain
Frederick W. A. G. Haultain
Sir Frederick William Alpin Gordon Haultain was a lawyer and a long serving Canadian politician and judge. His career in provincial and territorial legislatures stretched into four decades...
as the first Premier to form a government. Robert Brett
Robert Brett
Robert George Brett was a politician and physician in the North-West Territories and later Alberta, Canada....
became the first Leader of the official opposition and party lines were roughly drawn based on Conservatives and Liberals.
The Haultain government lobbied for Government of Canada
Government of Canada
The Government of Canada, formally Her Majesty's Government, is the system whereby the federation of Canada is administered by a common authority; in Canadian English, the term can mean either the collective set of institutions or specifically the Queen-in-Council...
for provincial powers for the Northwest Territories. In response on September 1, 1905 the provinces of Alberta
Alberta
Alberta is a province of Canada. It had an estimated population of 3.7 million in 2010 making it the most populous of Canada's three prairie provinces...
and Saskatchewan
Saskatchewan
Saskatchewan is a prairie province in Canada, which has an area of . Saskatchewan is bordered on the west by Alberta, on the north by the Northwest Territories, on the east by Manitoba, and on the south by the U.S. states of Montana and North Dakota....
were created by Prime Minister Wilfrid Laurier
Wilfrid Laurier
Sir Wilfrid Laurier, GCMG, PC, KC, baptized Henri-Charles-Wilfrid Laurier was the seventh Prime Minister of Canada from 11 July 1896 to 6 October 1911....
out of the southern populated portion of the territories.
Court of Law
The Legislative Assembly of the Northwest Territories served as the first court of law in the Northwest TerritoriesNorthwest Territories
The Northwest Territories is a federal territory of Canada.Located in northern Canada, the territory borders Canada's two other territories, Yukon to the west and Nunavut to the east, and three provinces: British Columbia to the southwest, and Alberta and Saskatchewan to the south...
from 1876 until the creation of the Supreme Court of the Northwest Territories
Supreme Court of the Northwest Territories
The Supreme Court of the Northwest Territories is the name of two different superior courts for the Canadian territory of the Northwest Territories, which have existed at different times.The first Supreme Court of the North-West Territories was created in 1885...
in 1887. Appointed members of the council served as Stipendiary Magistrates would travel the territories and oversee legal cases when the Legislature was not sitting. In 1887 the Northwest Territories moved to a new system that assigned Judges to judicial districts and separated the legal and judicial branches.
Ottawa
After the creation of Alberta and Saskatchewan the rest of the Northwest Territories was sparsely populated by enfranchised voters. The territories reverted back to its confederation entry status. A new council was setup in Ottawa consisting of four appointed seats and under the authority of a Commissioner. The Commissioner was the effective replacement of the Lieutenant Governor.Frederick White
Frederick D. White
Lieutenant-Colonel Frederick D. White was the first Commissioner of the Northwest Territories from August 24, 1905, to June 27, 1919 and former commander of the North-West Mounted Police.-Police career:...
was appointed as the first Commissioner and did not recall the council to sit during his time in office. The first session of the 2nd Council of the Northwest Territories
2nd Council of the Northwest Territories
The 2nd Council of the Northwest Territories known formally as the Council of the Northwest Territories lasted from 1905 to 1951. In 1905 when Alberta and Saskatchewan were carved out the Northwest Territories, the remaining population was too small to legally hold elections. The Northwest...
took place in 1921. The council members were bureaucrats appointed from the Interior Ministry and were not resident citizens of the territory. In 1947 The first Northwest Territories resident since 1905 was appointed to the council. John G. McNiven
John G. McNiven
John Graham "Jock" McNiven was a mine engineer, mine operator and politician from the Northwest Territories, Canada....
was appointed to represent Yellowknife. McNiven was also the first member appointed to the council from north of the 60th parallel.
In 1951 the council held its first general election in 49 years. The fifth general election
Northwest Territories general election, 1951
The Northwest Territories General election of 1951 held on September 17, 1951 was the sixth general election in the Northwest Territories, Canada, and the first since the 1902 election...
elected three members from the District of Mackenzie
District of Mackenzie
The District of Mackenzie was a regional administrative district of Canada's Northwest Territories. The district consisted of the portion of the Northwest Territories directly north of British Columbia, Alberta, and Saskatchewan on Canada's mainland....
. The old council was completely dissolved and five members were appointed along with the three elected representatives.
The council gained more powers back from the federal government as the population in the territory grew. In 1967 the Carrothers Commission
Carrothers Commission
The Carrothers Commission, formally The Advisory Commission on the Development of Government in the Northwest Territories, was a commission set up by the government of Canada to study the future of government of the Northwest Territories. It was led by A.W.R...
moved the territorial capital from Ottawa to Yellowknife
Yellowknife, Northwest Territories
Yellowknife is the capital and largest city of the Northwest Territories , Canada. It is located on the northern shore of Great Slave Lake, approximately south of the Arctic Circle, on the west side of Yellowknife Bay near the outlet of the Yellowknife River...
and for the first time elected members represented all parts of the territories. In 1975 the Legislative Assembly became fully elected, and the first elected speaker David Searle
David Searle
David Harry Searle is a retired politician and lawyer from Northwest Territories, Canada.-Legal career:Born in Edmonton, Searle moved to Yellowknife with his family in 1946. He was educated at the University of Alberta. Searle established his law practice in 1963 partnering with Justice Mark de...
, since 1905 presided over the Assembly.
Consensus government
Commissioner John ParkerJohn Havelock Parker
John Havelock Parker, OC was Commissioner of the Canadian Northwest Territories from April 15, 1979 to July 31, 1989. He had previously been Deputy Commissioner of Northwest Territories from 1967 to 1979....
gave up his powers of running the executive council and appointed George Braden
George Braden
George Braden was a politician from the Northwest Territories, Canada. Elected as "Government Leader", Braden would retroactively become the second Premier of the Northwest Territories, after a motion was passed in 1994 to change the official title.-Political career:Prior to seeking election as...
as leader of the Government and the first Premier since 1905. The model of responsible government that was used this time around was known as Consensus government. The executive council or cabinet forms government while all the regular members form an unofficial opposition.
The modern Consensus Government model is inherently non-partisan and serves effectively as a constant minority government. The Legislature uses this model up to the current day.
Assembly buildings
The building that has housed the Northwest Territories Legislative Assembly has changed many times since it was founded. The first building was the original Manitoba Legislature in Fort Garry. After the council moved to Fort Livingstone it was housed in the Swan River Barracks used by the North-West Mounted Police
Royal Canadian Mounted Police
The Royal Canadian Mounted Police , literally ‘Royal Gendarmerie of Canada’; colloquially known as The Mounties, and internally as ‘The Force’) is the national police force of Canada, and one of the most recognized of its kind in the world. It is unique in the world as a national, federal,...
.
The first building built for the needs of the Assembly was NWT Government House in Battleford. That building also served as a residence for the Lieutenant Governor. In 1883 the Assembly moved to Regina. The Territorial Administration building was built to accommodate the growing Assembly and used until 1905.
After the creation of Alberta and Saskatchewan, the capital was moved to Ottawa and the council sessions took place in an office building on Sparks Street
Sparks Street
Sparks Street is a street in downtown Ottawa, Canada that was converted into an outdoor pedestrian street in 1966, making it the earliest such street or mall in North America....
. When the council sessions returned to the territories, they were held in any infrastructure suitable as they traveled from community to community.
After the capital was moved to Yellowknife in 1967 a temporary site for the Legislative Assembly was used until the new Legislature building was finished in 1993. The design of the current Legislature building was created by Pin/Taylor Architects company from Yellowknife.
Current Membership
The current Legislative Assembly is the 17th Northwest Territories Legislative Assembly17th Northwest Territories Legislative Assembly
The 17th Northwest Territories Legislative Assembly will be established by the results of the 2011 Northwest Territories general election on October 3, 2011. It will be the 25th sitting of the Assembly in the territories history...
. It is the 25th sitting of the territorial assembly since 1870.
The territories has fixed election date legislation that ensures elections are held every four years on the first Monday in October.
The most recent general election, which was the 22nd general election
Northwest Territories general election, 2011
The 2011 Northwest Territories general election, the 22nd in its history, took place on October 3, 2011. Nineteen members were returned to the 17th Legislative Assembly from single member districts conducted under first-past-the-post voting system....
was held on October 3, 2011. The legislature since 1905 is a non-partisan body and all members run and sit as independents.
| Member | District | |
|---|---|---|
| Michael Nadli Michael Nadli Michael Nadli is a Canadian politician, who was elected to the Legislative Assembly of the Northwest Territories in the 2011 election. He represents the electoral district of Deh Cho.-Political career:... |
Deh Cho | |
| Wendy Bisaro Wendy Bisaro Wendy Bisaro is a teacher and current territorial level politician from Northwest Territories CanadaBisaro began her political career in 1988 when she first ran for a seat in the municipal government as a School trustee, she served three terms and a total of twelve years in the position... |
Frame Lake | |
| Glen Abernethy Glen Abernethy Glen Abernethy is a territorial level politician from Northwest Territories, Canada. He is a current member of the Northwest Territories Legislature serving from 2007 to present.... |
Great Slave Great Slave Great Slave is a territorial electoral district for the Legislative Assembly of the Northwest Territories, Canada.It is one of seven districts that represent Yellowknife and the current Member of the Legislative Assembly is Glen Abernethy... |
|
| Robert Bouchard Robert Bouchard (Northwest Territories politician) Robert Bouchard is a Canadian politician, who was elected to the Legislative Assembly of the Northwest Territories in the 2011 election. He represents the electoral district of Hay River North.-External links:... |
Hay River North Hay River North Hay River North is a territorial electoral district for the Legislative Assembly of the Northwest Territories, Canada.It is one of two districts that represent Hay River.- Members of the Legislative Assembly :-2011 election:-2007 election:... |
|
| Jane Groenewegen Jane Groenewegen Jane Mary "Ostler" Groenewegen is a territorial level politician from northern Canada and a current member of the Legislative Assembly of the Northwest Territories.-Political career:... |
Hay River South Hay River South Hey River South is a territorial electoral district for the Legislative Assembly of the Northwest Territories, Canada.It is one of two districts that represent Hay River and the current Member of the Legislative Assembly is Jane Groenewegen.... |
|
| Dave Ramsay Dave Ramsay Dave Ramsay is a territorial level politician and current member of the Northwest Territories Legislature.-Political career:... |
Kam Lake | |
| Robert McLeod Robert C. McLeod Robert C. McLeod is carpenter and private contractor as well as a current territorial level politician and current member of the Northwest Territories Legislature.... |
Inuvik Twin Lakes Inuvik Twin Lakes Inuvik Twin Lakes is a territorial electoral district for the Legislative Assembly of the Northwest Territories, Canada.It is one of two districts that represent Inuvik and the current Member of the Legislative Assembly is Robert C. McLeod... |
|
| Frederick Blake, Jr. Frederick Blake, Jr. Frederick Sonny Blake, Jr. is a Canadian politician, who was elected to the Legislative Assembly of the Northwest Territories in the 2011 election. He represents the electoral district of Mackenzie Delta.-Political career:... |
Mackenzie Delta Mackenzie Delta (electoral district) Mackenzie Delta is a territorial electoral district for the Legislative Assembly of the Northwest Territories, Canada. The district consists of Aklavik, Fort McPherson and Tsiigehtchic.-History:... |
|
| Jackson Lafferty Jackson Lafferty Jackson Lafferty is a territorial level politician in Canada.-Early life:Lafferty attended High School in Yellowknife, Northwest Territories. He received his post secondary education at Red Deer College and is currently enrolled at Athabasca University where he is completing a Management Degree... |
Monfwi | |
| Kevin Menicoche Kevin Menicoche Kevin A. Menicoche is a current member of the legislature and former cabinet minister in the Northwest Territories, Canada.-Political career:... |
Nahendeh Nahendeh Nahendeh is a territorial electoral district for the Legislative Assembly of the Northwest Territories, Canada. The district consists of Fort Liard, Fort Simpson, Jean Marie River, Nahanni Butte, Trout Lake and Wrigley.... |
|
| Alfred Moses Alfred Moses (politician) Alfred Moses is a Canadian politician, who was elected to the Legislative Assembly of the Northwest Territories in the 2011 election. He represents the electoral district of Inuvik Boot Lake.-External links:... |
Inuvik Boot Lake Inuvik Boot Lake Inuvik Boot Lake is a territorial electoral district for the Legislative Assembly of the Northwest Territories, Canada.Together with Inuvik Twin Lakes, it is one of two electoral districts that represent Inuvik; both were created in 1999 from the previous monolithic Inuvik riding.- Geography... |
|
| Jackie Jacobson Jackie Jacobson Jackie Jacobson is a current territorial level politician, hunter and former Mayor of Tuktoyaktuk from Northwest Territories, Canada... |
Nunakput Nunakput Nunakput is a territorial electoral district for the Legislative Assembly of the Northwest Territories, Canada. The district consists of Paulatuk, Sachs Harbour, Tuktoyaktuk and Ulukhaktok.The current Member of the Legislative Assembly is Jackie Jacobson.... |
|
| Daryl Dolynny Daryl Dolynny Daryl Dolynny is a Canadian politician, who was elected to the Legislative Assembly of the Northwest Territories in the 2011 election. He represents the electoral district of Range Lake.... |
Range Lake | |
| Norman Yakeleya Norman Yakeleya Norman Yakeleya is a territorial level politician from Northwest Territories, Canada.-Political career:... |
Sahtu Sahtu The Sahtú are an Aboriginal peoples of Canada Dene people living in the vicinity of Great Bear Lake , Northwest Territories, Canada... |
|
| Michael Miltenberger Michael Miltenberger J. Michael Miltenberger is a former carpenter and a current territorial level politician from northern Canada.-Early life:... |
Thebacha Thebacha Thebacha is a territorial electoral district for the Legislative Assembly of Northwest Territories, Canada. The district consists of Fort Smith.The current Member of the Legislative Assembly is Michael Miltenberger.... |
|
| Tom Beaulieu Tom Beaulieu Tom Beaulieu is a former municipal level politician and civil servant. He is current a politician on the territorial level of government. He has been serving as a member of the Northwest Territories Legislature, he was first elected in 2007.... |
Tu Nedhe Tu Nedhe Tu Nedhe is a territorial electoral district for the Legislative Assembly of the Northwest Territories, Canada. The district consists of Fort Resolution and Lutselk'e.The current Member of the Legislative Assembly is Tom Beaulieu.... |
|
| Bob Bromley Bob Bromley Bob Bromley is a Canadian politician. He currently represents the electoral district of Weledeh in the Legislative Assembly of the Northwest Territories. He was elected in the 2007 territorial election to succeed Joe Handley, who did not stand for re-election.... |
Weledeh | |
| Robert Hawkins Robert Hawkins (Northwest Territories politician) Robert Hawkins is an engineer and a former municipal and current territorial level politician from Northwest Territories, Canada.-Early life:... |
Yellowknife Centre Yellowknife Centre Yellowknife Centre is a territorial electoral district for the Legislative Assembly of the Northwest Territories, Canada.It is one of seven districts that represent Yellowknife and the current Member of the Legislative Assembly is Robert Hawkins.... |
|
| Bob McLeod Bob McLeod (politician) Bob McLeod is a Canadian politician. He is currently a member of the Legislative Assembly of the Northwest Territories, and currently the 12th Premier of the Northwest Territories having held that position since October 26, 2011.-Early life:... |
Yellowknife South Yellowknife South Yellowknife South is a territorial electoral district for the Legislative Assembly of the Northwest Territories, Canada.It is one of seven districts that represent Yellowknife and the current Member of the Legislative Assembly is Bob McLeod.... |
Cabinet Ministers
The 11 ministers of the Government of the NWT is found in the Executive Council of the Northwest TerritoriesExecutive Council of the Northwest Territories
The Executive Council of the Northwest Territories or cabinet consists of six Ministers and a Premier elected by the 19 members of the Legislative Assembly.Ministers at present are as follows : PortfolioMinister...
.
See also
- List of Northwest Territories Legislative Assemblies
- List of Northwest Territories general elections
- Speaker of the Legislative Assembly of the Northwest Territories