Dave Sullivan
Northern News Services

Fort Simpson (Aug10/01) - The Aboriginal Pipeline Group has lost a member.

Deh Cho First Nations (DCFN) representative Dennis Nelner submitted his resignation Tuesday, even though the DCFN withdrew its support for the group back in May.

That was after APG forged an ownership agreement for a Mackenzie Valley pipeline.

"I can't help feel there's animosity between the APG and Deh Cho First Nations," said Nelner.

He was also concerned that some of the hard-feelings could have been personal.

"DCFN is for whatever political reason refusing to deal with APG. I can't help but feel this is in part due to the animosity between DCFN and myself," his resignation letter says.

Nelner was Grand Chief Michael Nadli's executive assistant until being terminated in January.

Nelner said he was able to stay on because he wasn't being paid by DCFN. Per-diem compensation, he said, came from fund worth just under $1 million that was provided last year by the territorial and federal governments.

In an interview Nelner said "pettiness was getting in the way of work that needs to be done."

Soon after Deh Cho First Nations pulled out of the APG, leaders criticized the deal it made as a poor one with few benefits for the region.