"We had our successes and our failures but overall we were successful because our co-operatives developed the tools and promoted the conditions to enable ordinary people to participate in our economy and benefit from it."

Lyall also said division will change the political landscape of the North but "our commitment to co-operation remains firm."

Earlier this month, co-op representatives gathered at the organization's 25th annual general meeting in Winnipeg.

Delegates at the AGM heard presentations by GNWT Economic Development Minister Stephen Kakfwi, Nunavut Tunngavik president Jose Kusugak and GNWT Municipal Affairs Minister Manitok Thompson. Kakfwi spoke on the co-operative's ideals being rooted in the NWT's aboriginal cultures.

"Co-operatives make economic development possible. Co-ops will always invest principally at the community level."

Co-ops show there is strength in working together, he added.

Kusugak spoke about re-opening discussions with the co-operative movement on credit union development in the NWT.

Thompson noted how the co-operative movement empowers Northerners.

"The meeting was a celebration of 25 years of progress for the NWT co-operative movement," co-op spokesperson Greg O'Neill said.

NWT co-ops are member-owners of Arctic Co-operatives Ltd. and the NWT Co-operative Business Development Fund.

Arctic Co-operatives' services include accounting, marketing, purchasing and transportation of merchandise as well as training.

The financial arm provides loans to member co-ops by pooling financial resources. The fund is a source of capital to finance inventory, capital projects and debt restructuring.

Last year the fund, created in the mid-1980s, distributed $12 million to co-ops. In 1986 $2 million was distributed.

There are currently 41 co-ops in the NWT.

The organization started in 1972 with 26 community-based member-owned co-ops joined forces. That federation grew out of Canadian Arctic Producers which was incorporated in 1965.

NWT Co-operatives' operations include retail outlets, hotels, petroleum delivery, taxi and cartage services, commercial and residential rental units, airline ticket agencies and cable television services. One of the central roles of Arctic Co-operatives continues to be the marketing of arts and crafts.

Arctic Co-operatives is also a third owner in information network company ARDICOM.

Last year, over $1.9 million was returned to individual co-op members ($1.3 million in cash and the remainder to share capital accounts). In total, NWT co-operatives returned over $3 million to Northern communities.