Daniel MacIsaac
Northern News Services

Yellowknife (Mar 31/00) - Saying they want self-government to work, local leaders came together for the first time last weekend to discuss the future of Inuvik.

Inuvik town council, elected leaders from the Inuvialuit Community Corporation and elder representatives of the Nihtat Gwich'in Council spent two days at the Midnight Sun Recreation Complex trying to establish how a new system of government will work.

"Each group has its own concerns and ideas about how self-government should proceed," said Mayor George Roach. "However, common ground will lead us toward a community vision of how we can work together to make Inuvik a better place to live."

The leaders said the important thing is to get started early -- two or three years before a final agreement and self-government are expected to become a reality -- so that residents understand what's happening and administration is prepared to take over.

"There is fear of change," said corporation chair Donna Kisoun. "It will only intensify if we don't divulge the details of negotiations as talks proceed and agreement is reached on individual chapters by the federal, territorial and aboriginal negotiators."

The workshop produced a number of resolutions including the need to develop communications and implementations strategies; create an Inuvik self-government committee; and draft a community constitution.

Representatives said that although the proposed self-government agreement is between the Inuvialuit and Gwich'in and territorial and federal governments, they understand that non-aboriginal residents of Inuvik will be necessarily affected.

They said negotiators are seeking a model to implement the right to self-government mainly through public government. This will involve revamping the structure of town council to include guaranteed Inuvialuit and Gwich'in seats and renegotiating law-making authority and authority over government programs and services.

In town for self-government talks this week, territorial chief negotiator Fred Talen also dropped in on the workshop and gave it high marks.

"It's excellent to see this dialogue being established," he said, "and it's good to get this feedback I can take to the negotiations."

Deputy mayor Peter Clarkson said besides establishing a steering committee, the three parties can also do more to work together through efforts like trading agendas and dropping in on each others' meetings.

He said it was unfortunate, however, that elected Nihtat leaders did not attend the workshop.

"The elders have made good input, but they don't have the decision-making authority," he said.

The four elders included Catherine Mitchell and Elizabeth Firth, who both said they were happy to participate in what they felt was a worthwhile initiative.

"It was really good," said Mitchell, "though I think there's still a lot of be explained about self-government and what it means."

"After more meetings there'll be more understanding and we'll know where it's all going," added Firth, "but right now it's hard to say."

Kisoun said those follow-up meetings will produce progress.

"The important thing is that we've all agreed in principle to work together," she said. "This is definitely a first, and it won't be the last time we work together."