Terry Kruger
Northern News Services

Yellowknife (Jan 17/00) - NWT Akaitcho Treaty 8 chiefs are worried pressure to push ahead Dogrib treaty talks could run roughshod over their traditional territories.

Just days after the Dogrib bands celebrated signing of an agreement in principle, outlining land and self-government rights, the Treaty 8 chiefs have called for establishment of a clear boundary to outline each First Nation's territory.

The Treaty 8 chiefs have laid the blame for what they see as a lack of action squarely on Ottawa.

"The difficulty with this present process is with the federal government," said Peter Liske, chief of the Yellowknives Dene (Ndilo) in a statement to the media last week.

"They have been playing around with the territory of the two groups. We have been very clear from the outset saying that we want a clear boundary between the Dogrib and the Akaitcho Treaty 8. However, the federal government has encouraged the Dogrib process to proceed without settling this very critical issue."

Liske and the other Treaty 8 chiefs, Dettah's Richard Edgericon, Lutsel K'e's Felix Lockhart and Don Balsillie of Deninu Kue First Nation in Fort Resolution, say they want a boundary based upon a treaty struck between the Akaitcho and Edzo people many years ago.

"Our concerns are not with the Dogrib. They are our neighbours," said Liske.

"We have no intention on going back on that treaty but we want to see a clear boundary based on that treaty set in place as quickly as possible."

Establishment of a defined boundary could be difficult however, said the federal negotiator working with the Dogrib.

An agreement resolving issues where Dogrib territories overlap with neighbouring First Nations, including the Akaitcho Treaty 8 group, is necessary before the Dogribs can complete a final agreement.

But federal negotiator Jean-Yves Fassiniwi said drawing a definite boundary between the First Nations may not be possible.

"Boundary may not be the term that's required," he said last week. "Boundary would presume you would have to split the land."

Fassiniwi said the Dogrib Dene and Yellowknives Dene have shared use of the same territory for so long that it would be better to work out an overlap agreement sharing benefits from common lands.

That same situation will be true between the Dogrib people and the Deh Cho, he added.

The federal negotiator also suggested there is a very simple reason behind the demand for clear boundaries.

"You don't have to look much farther than diamonds," he added.

Although the Dogrib and Yellowknives have met to discuss overlap issues in the past, no new meetings are scheduled.

Some movement is expected on the issue, however, as a member of Liske's staff suggested, more information could be available today after Treaty 8 chiefs return from a weekend meeting in Edmonton.