Doug Ashbury
Northern News Services

Deh Cho (Dec 13/99) - Under what has become known as the "Deh Cho process," the federal government and the Deh Cho First Nations' negotiators could hold their next meeting as early as next month.

This "process" is part of the federal government's settlement of the aboriginal land claims policy.

"We're hoping, in mid-January, to meet with the Deh Cho First Nations (for a) workshop on the role of the territorial government in the negotiations," federal negotiator Robin Aitkin said Thursday.

Deh Cho negotiators have been critical of any participation by the Government of the Northwest Territories. They contend their relationship is with the Crown.

Canada and the Deh Cho First Nations have agreed to a two-stage approach. The first part will involve negotiations on interim measures, framework and funding agreements. Part two will cover negotiations on land, resources and self-government.

Aitkin said it will be "tough," but a framework is possible by the end of March.

There have only been two negotiation sessions on stage one.

"It's a careful process so far," he said.

But, he adds, "I think we are doing some unique things at the table" and that the two-stage process was a method arrived at "together."

Aitkin said the federal government respects the Deh Cho First Nations' desire for an aboriginal-federal government agreement but "we require a more workable arrangement."

Asked to expand on that, Aitkin preferred not to as this could be interpreted as negotiating via the press. Aitkin, currently with the Department of Indian Affairs and Northern Development's (DIAND) office in Hull, Que., previously lived in Yellowknife for 13 years.

His NWT claims experience includes work on the Salt River First Nation treaty land entitlement settlement. Salt River has decided to negotiate independent from other members of the NWT Treaty 8 Tribal Council. Salt River First Nation officially presented their treaty land entitlement and compensation package to DIAND on June 23, 1999.

As for the timing of the Deh Cho process -- if it goes well -- it could take four or five years to arrive at a final agreement.

"I agree with the full consultation process, because of the Dene Metis situation," Aitkin said.

In 1976 and 1977, Canada accepted comprehensive claims from the Dene and Metis of the Mackenzie Valley. Negotiations of a joint Dene-Metis claim began in 1981. An agreement was initialled by negotiators in April 1990. But in July 1999, the Dene and Metis at their assemblies voted not to proceed with agreement ratification.

The Gwich'in and Sahtu Dene and Metis did not agree with this action and withdrew from the Dene-Metis negotiating group requesting regional settlements.

In November 1990, the government discontinued negotiation of the Dene-Metis claim and authorized the negotiation of separate regional settlements.

In 1992, the Gwich'in Agreement was concluded and in 1994, the Sahtu Dene and Metis Agreement was reached.