Dane Gibson
Northern News Services

NNSL (Jun 21/99) - A tentative Agreement in Principle (AIP) was reached in Ottawa last week by negotiators for the Dogrib claim, the federal government and the GNWT.

The agreement provides the Dogrib with 39,000 square kilometres of land around four Dogrib communities and includes control of sub-surface resources.

It also includes a $90-million settlement, a share of resource royalties received by the federal government from the Mackenzie Valley and extensive powers of self-government.

"This begins a new future for the Dogrib," said Dogrib chief negotiator John Zoe. "We can now begin an extensive effort to explain the content of the AIP to the public, communities, and various interest groups.

"It's important to convey to as many people as possible how the AIP will add to the quality of life in the North and enhance its political development."

There are more than 3,000 Dogrib residing, mainly, in the communities of Becho Ko (Rae-Edzo), Wha Ti (Lac La Marte), Gameti (Rae Lakes), and Wekweti (Snare Lake).

Formal negotiations of a Dogrib comprehensive land claim began in January 1994. The agreement is currently in draft form, but will be finalized before it is presented for approval at the Treaty 11 annual general assembly in August.

GNWT Ministry of Aboriginal Affairs chief negotiator James Lawrance said the AIP stage is valuable because it sets out the basic elements of the entire self-government package.

"Northerners have been negotiating their Aboriginal rights for quite some time so any event where we make clear progress is an important event," Lawrance said.

"From here, we still have a lot of work ahead to complete a final agreement."

If the AIP is approved by the Dogrib, the GNWT and the federal government, negotiations would begin to conclude a final agreement.