Wrigley band wants to protect land
Derek Neary
Northern News Services
Wrigley (Feb 02/01) - A large tract of land that the Pehdzeh Ki First Nation wants to protect is being eyed by a prospector.
An individual or a company has applied for a prospecting licence within an area identified as a protected areas candidate north of Wrigley, near Blackwater Lake.
If issued, the licence would give that party exclusive rights to stake claim for minerals within the specified area.
"That's the problem with the (Canadian) Mining Regulations as they exist now. We think they're illegal," Deh Cho First Nations chief negotiator Chris Reid told 16 PKFN band members at a meeting in Fort Simpson last Thursday.
He said the Delgamu'ukw decision in British Columbia proved that consultation with First Nations is required on traditional lands, as granted by treaty rights.
Reid took part in a tele-conference call prior to Thursday's meeting and said he urged the mining recorder in Yellowknife not to issue the prospecting permit.
He said the DCFN's Interim Measures Agreement, which is not yet signed or effective, would prohibit prospecting permits from being issued without the support of affected First Nations. The mining recorder, he added, seemed inclined to respect the intent of that agreement.
A decision by the mining recorder was expected on Wednesday. Whether or not the permit is issued, the prospecting party still has a licence and can proceed to stake off the area, Reid said. If staking were to occur, the PKFN could take the matter to court, he said.
"You could be in for a battle here is basically what I'm saying," he told the band's delegates.
"We're prepared," replied PKFN councillor Gaylene Oskenekisses.
Chief David Moses said the PKFN just became aware of the prospecting last Thursday morning, although the application for the permit was filed in December.
"It came as quite a surprise," Moses said.
The PKFN had held a Protected Areas Strategy (PAS) workshop in October to safeguard the expanse of land from development. It had been said then, and was repeated at last week's meeting, that the area is still used as hunting and fishing grounds and some band members have cabins there.
A small part of the area of interest to the prospecting party, the northern-most section, lies within the Sahtu Settlement area. Only the area within the Deh Cho is being requested for exemption from a prospecting permit, Reid noted.
