by P.J. Harston
Northern News Services

NNSL (DEC 11/96) - Two breakaway Metis organizations and Yellowknife's NWT Metis Nation Local have joined forces in the face of mediocrity, its presidents say.

The North Slave Metis Alliance, which just received legal standing, says it is ready to move ahead with negotiating impact benefit agreements with industry and lands and resources agreements with the federal government.

"We needed a vehicle that would move ahead more quickly than the Metis Nation. We believe this is that vehicle." said Rae-Edzo North Slave Alliance president Sholto Douglas.

His organization, formerly Metis Local 64, severed all ties with the Metis Nation at it's annual general meeting this weekend in Rae.

"But this doesn't mean that down the road we (the North Slave Alliance) won't participate or work with the Metis Nation," said Douglas.

Douglas, along with the Yellowknife Metis Council president and Yellowknife's Metis Local 66 president held a press conference Monday, to explain what the North Slave Metis Alliance is and what it means to the 1,500 members of the three organizations.

"The Alliance will represent people at the grassroots level who have aboriginal inherent right in the area," said Bill Enge, Metis Local 66 president.

While still affiliated with the Metis Nation, Local 66 has defied some of its members by entering into the alliance.

"We tried to announce the incorporation of the (alliance) at our general assembly over the weekend, but we weren't able to provide the information because the assembly's proceedings were disrupted," said Enge.

He said a number of members "hijacked" the assembly and tried to impose their own chairman and agenda.

"A number of members became disgusted with the proceedings and left the meeting," said Enge.

Clem Paul, president of the Yellowknife Metis Council -- a former Metis Nation local that broke ranks with the NWT Metis Nation in 1991 over funding and organizational disputes -- said the new alliance is a step forward for the area Metis.

"So far, (the alliance) has been operating on a handshake between leaders of the three organizations," said Paul.

"This new regional entity will speed up the process of negotiations and should prevent any further delays, the result of dealing through the Metis Nation."

Paul said historically his organization and Enge's Metis Local have been in different political camps.

But this new relationship between the two, along with Douglas's Rae-Edzo organization, shows that Metis are willing to rise above the mediocrity they were stuck with within the Metis Nation's structure, he said.

"We could fight between each other and through the Metis Nation forever and get nothing done, or we could do it our way and see some results."

The alliance's first move will be hold a general membership meeting this weekend at Yellowknife's Legion Hall.

Membership criteria will be based on Metis who can demonstrate their aboriginal use and occupancy of land in the region prior to 1921.

Following that assembly, the Alliance will begin work on attempting impact benefits negotiations with BHP Diamonds Ltd., the mining company set to begin operations north of Yellowknife.

NWT Metis Nation officials had not returned phone calls for comments on the new alliance by news deadline Tuesday.