Doug Ashbury
Northern News Services

Yellowknife (Oct 11/00) - When it comes to pipeline proposals, there's a big difference between who is pushing for commercialization of Alaska gas and who is promoting Delta gas.

In Alaska and the Yukon politicians are pushing for a pipeline. In the NWT, aboriginal groups are pushing the process, said Dennis Nelner, a member of the aboriginal pipeline group.

Nelner, with the Deh Cho First Nation in Fort Simpson, spoke at the seventh annual Council for the Advancement of Native Economic Development Officers held Sept.27-29 in Yellowknife.

Last month, Yukon Premier and Economic Development Minister Pat Duncan and Alaska governor Tony Knowles signed an accord renewing their commitment to work together on "matters of joint concern."

And at the recent International Pipeline Conference in Calgary, Duncan said, in a release, "This conference provides a timely opportunity to seek support from the pipeline industry for the Alaskan Highway pipeline project."

Duncan recently told Yellowknifer she has always maintained there is room for two natural gas pipeline developments -- one moving gas from Alaska's North slope to market and another down the Mackenzie Valley.

The GNWT sent a delegation of NWT representatives, led by Premier Stephen Kakfwi, to Washington last week to promote the Mackenzie Valley pipeline route (see story page A23). The group includes cabinet ministers Joe Handley, Vince Steen and Jim Antoine, MLA Paul Delorey and aboriginal pipeline working group representatives Richard Nerysoo and Doug Cardinal.

If the Alaska Highway pipeline were to be built, it would run from Prudhoe Bay, through the Yukon, to B.C.

Nelner adds the aboriginal pipeline group will ultimately support one Mackenzie Valley pipeline plan. The group expects a Mackenzie Valley pipeline project agreement in principle will be signed in first quarter 2001.

"We're looking at ownership, the environment and wildlife," Nelner said.