Tracy Kovalench
Northern News Services

NNSL (Jun 22/98) - The Dene Nation's role has changed over the past 28 years.

Previously representing individual communities in the political arena, the Dene Nation now focuses its efforts on pan-territorial issues, including health and the environment.

A member of the Western NWT Aboriginal Summit, Dene Nation Grand Chief Bill Erasmus says the office's political role leans more towards facilitation and support.

"We open the door to ministers," he says Erasmus. The office also helps voice specific community concerns nationally and internationally.

Located in Yellowknife, the national office offers its resource facilities to all Dene communities.

Last week during the 28th Dene National Assembly, concerns regarding health and the environment were brought up regularly by elders, chiefs and councillors. All are areas the Dene Nation is now taking a leadership role in tackling.

In response to motions passed at the 1997 assembly, the Denendeh lands and environment department, under the Dene Nation, participated in or hosted more than 15 workshops with Dene across the territories.

In conjunction with five other aboriginal groups, including the Metis Nation, the Dene Nation has also been successful in lobbying Canada to maintain a strong position in the United Nation's Economic Commission for Europe's persistent organic pollutants (POPs) protocol.

A member of the lands and environment department will join the Canadian negotiating team at the end of this month in hopes to reaching an agreement on ridding the world of the pollutants.