Dene nation Meets for first time in eight years
Jorge Barrera
Northern News Services
Yellowknife (Feb 23/01) - The Dene Nation is drawing closer to reworking their constitution.
Grand Chief of the Dene Nation Bill Erasmus said a draft committee is working on ironing out the details and modernizing the constitution.
The Dene Nation met as a whole for the first time in eight years this week in Yellowknife.
Delegates from 26 communities in the Northwest Territories met for three days of talks to hash out constitutional change.
"The draft looks at membership questions and is aiming to clearly identify community and regional authority," said Grand Chief Bill Erasmus. "We're modernizing the constitution," he said.
Erasmus said this constitutional exercise has never been done before.
"This is a major undertaking," he said.
Dettah Chief Richard Edjericon said he was happy with the way things are looking. "These changes will make us move forward," he said.
"I'm glad to see the regions coming back," he said.
The sentiment was echoed by Kakisa Chief Lloyd Chicot.
"It's good to see us coming back together," he said.
"Because of different perspectives we got different interpretations on how to work together," he said.
"We have a better idea now," he said.
