Kakisa (July 06/01) - Just go for it and reap the benefits, the annual Deh Cho Assembly was told bluntly last week.

Just after Deh Cho chiefs and elders wrapped up two days of talks on whether to even allow a pipeline through traditional territory, neighbouring Dogrib Chief Joe Rabesca, sporting a different approach, told delegates that signing lucrative deals with resource companies is possible.

Chief Joe Rabesca says he almost got into a fight with the BHP president.

Finding success could mean going as far as reaching across a boardroom table to slug a corporate type.

Rabesca said it just about came to that in 1992, when BHP was negotiating economic benefits with the Dogrib before building the Ekati diamond mine.

He described the stress of talks as becoming so unbearable "I almost got in a fight" with BHP's president at the time. "That's how much pressure there was," Rabesca told delegates.

Two months later, at 11 p.m. on the deadline day for working out a deal, the two shook hands. An agreement brings the Dogrib $1 million a year in cash.

When Diavik came along a few years later, a deal was worked out that could be even better for the Dogrib.

"We made a lot of changes and improvements with Diavik."

Those payments are on a sliding scale, he said, without revealing details.

"When they make money they have to pay us more. That's what we did. Now DeBeers is going to come," he said.

Rabesca described the Dogrib approach as "waking up the companies."

"Never, ever let them walk away," he said of mining and oil giants wanting to use traditional lands.

One concern of Deh Cho leaders causing them to shy away from a pipeline deal is signing on before self-government talks conclude. Self-government will give the Deh Cho control over the land and pipeline royalties, which they won't have if they sign now.

Reaching a deal with existing governments will take seven to 10 years.

Despite that Rabesca suggests the Deh Cho should make their move now.

"I'm not pushing you but I'm saying maybe the time is right .... Don't be scared."

He also stressed the importance of First Nations landing supply contracts in addition to the cash from economic benefit agreements.

"There are contracts here and there, all over," he said. "I took the ones I wanted. We're going to have those contracts for life."

If the Deh Cho can't handle some that are too large or complex, "find partners," he said.