Jorge Barrera
Northern News Services

Inuvik (Feb 18/02) - The territorial government is blocking attempts to establish an aboriginal police force in the Beaufort Delta, say negotiators for the Gwich'in.

Lawrence Norbert, Gwich'in self-government negotiator, said the territorial government refused to allow provisions for an aboriginal police force to be incorporated into a recent self-government agreement. The agreement sets the margins for a final agreement between the Inuvialuit and Gwich'in, and the federal and territorial governments.

"They are adamantly against it," said Norbert.

Steve Iveson, executive director of negotiations for the territorial Department of Aboriginal Affairs, said an aboriginal police force did not fit into the context of their agreement.

"Tribal police police aboriginal people down south on reserve land," said Iveson. "That model would not work in this context."

Iveson said they are negotiating a public government for aboriginal and non-aboriginals in the Beaufort-Delta.

Chapter 18 of the agreement outlines provisions for a bylaw type of police force that can enforce aboriginal law drafted by the Gwich'in and Inuvialuit.

"If we have government without the ability to administer our own laws and land it's not self-government," said Norbert.

The federal government is open to establishing an aboriginal police force in the Beaufort-Delta but needs the territorial government's support, said Daniel Charbonneau, chief negotiator with the federal team.

"It needs to be done in a tripartite fashion," said Charbonneau, who noted the federal government has a fund set aside for establishing a force.

In Alberta, seven aboriginal police units cover 15 communities with a force of 60 officers.

The federal and provincial governments fund the forces in an a tripartite agreement.

Lutsel K'e Chief Archie Catholique said he wants an aboriginal police force to patrol his community.

He said he sees no good reason to prevent any aboriginal community from creating their own force.

"We've been taking care of ourselves before, we can continue to do so," said Catholique. "Our community should have its own police force."

The Gwich'in-Inuvialuit agreement, called an agreement-in-principle, was initialed in October.

It still needs final ratification and cabinet approval.