The Inuvialuit, along with the governments of Canada, the Northwest Territories and the Yukon Government share management responsibilities in the Inuvialuit Settlement Region. To enhance cooperative management (co-management) between these parties, five joint Inuvialuit-Government bodies were established as a result of the Inuvialuit Final Agreement (IFA). Government and Inuvialuit interests are equally represented in each group. An impartial, non-government person acceptable to both government and the Inuvialuit, chairs each of the co-management bodies.
The Co-management System in the Western Arctic and Yukon North Slope established pursuant to the IFA is composed of five Co-Management Boards. The Joint Secretariat – Inuvialuit Settlement Region was established to provide technical and administrative support to the Inuvialuit Game Council (IGC) and to 4 of the 5 Inuvialuit-Government co-management bodies:
- Inuvialuit Game Council,
- Environmental Impact Screening Committee,
- Environmental Impact Review Board,
- Wildlife Management Advisory Council (NWT), and
- Fisheries Joint Management Committee.
A Secretariat office for the Wildlife Management Advisory Council (North Slope) is located in Whitehorse, Yukon.