Arthur Milnes
Northern News Services

NNSL (Jun 19/98) - Concerns and issues surrounding the Deh Cho First Nation's (DCFN) Deh Cho Process were scheduled to be handed to a ministerial envoy this week.

The Deh Cho Process is the self-government proposal put forward to Ottawa by the DCFN. The two sides have been deadlocked over the proposal for the past number of years.

Since the winter, the group has been busy interviewing concerned area residents and providing information on the Deh Cho Process.

"Overall, we found a lot of interest and concerns," said Michael Cazon.

"These have been submitted to the DCFN and will be brought forth at the session with the ministerial envoy (University of Toronto professor Peter Russell) this week (yesterday)."

The envoy was appointed by the DCFN and Department of Indian and Northern Affairs Minister Jane Stewart earlier this year.

He will report his findings to both groups later this summer.

In recent weeks Russell has been travelling the Deh Cho gathering evidence for his report.

This week's scheduled visit to Fort Simpson was part of this fact-finding mission.