Aboriginal rights impact questioned
Jorge Barrera
Northern News Services
Yellowknife (Dec 04/00) - A one-man team is challenging creation of an employee association at BHP's Ekati Mines on grounds that it threatens aboriginal rights.
Mike Fraser is seeking intermediary status from the Canadian Labour Relations Board in an effort to block the employee association from forming a bargaining committee.
 BHP's Graham Nichols says he doesn't see why (aboriginal rights) would be buried. |
"I don't believe aboriginal people were given the whole truth about representation (by the association)," said Fraser.
"They will no longer have priority status."
Graham Nicholls, vice-president of external affairs for BHP, said BHP will uphold the existing agreement with the GNWT but adds that any developments with the association are out of his company's hands.
"I don't see why (aboriginal rights) would be buried," said Nicholls.
"But whatever happens after the formation of a bargaining committee we cannot deal with it directly we would have to work with them under the Canadian Labour Code."
Representatives for the Employees Association could not be reached for comment.
The Dene Nation is considering support for Fraser's cause.
Chuck Larocque, executive assistant for the Dene Nation, said he will present Fraser's case to Dene Nation president Bill Erasmus next week.
"We're considering support basically on a human rights issue," said Larocque.
"He's a representative of aboriginal employees and is taking their issues to the fore." Fraser set up an aboriginal monitoring board to guard aboriginal rights outlined in the agreement between BHP and the GNWT.
In November the GNWT certified his board under the Societies Act. Resources Wildlife and Economic Development gave him $2000 to start the board.
"We want to present the other side of the story from our perspective," he said.
