Derek Neary
Northern News Services

Fort Simpson (June 14/02) - The federal government has presented what Michael Nadli describes as a "take it or leave it" final offer for a Deh Cho Interim Resource Development Agreement.

As of Monday, Nadli, the region's grand chief, said he's not sure whether Deh Cho First Nations leaders are ready to take it.

"On resource revenue sharing we're pretty far apart (from the federal government)," he said. "I think it's got to be better than what they're offering ... a lot better. That's the bottom line."

Federal negotiator Robin Aitken said the government put forth terms of 12.25 per cent on resource royalties up to $2 million and 2.45 per cent on additional resource royalties received by Ottawa from the Mackenzie Valley.

"What Canada is offering in the interim is, by far, more than anything anywhere else in a (negotiations) process," Aitken said. "We've decided to say, 'This is it. This is as far as we can go'... We believe it's a fair agreement."

Nadli contended that the federal government's interim resource revenue sharing offer would generate $2 million to $3 million per year for the Deh Cho.

"It's ludicrous for us to open up our lands for two to three million (dollars) annually... it's a drop in the bucket," said Nadli.

"And then the federal government walks away and industry walks away richer than they could ever be."

The DCFN has demanded up to 50 per cent of resource royalties. The two sides haven't been able to resolve the issue over the past year.

DCFN leaders were briefed on the federal proposal during a teleconference on Monday. They discussed strategy for the June 19-20 negotiations session in Yellowknife, the final face-to-face meeting with the federal government before the Deh Cho Assembly in Kakisa.

Aitken said the federal government has made concessions in a number of other negotiations areas as well.

"We're looking at an unprecedented amount of land in our land withdrawal negotiations," he said. "We believe we're moving the policy forward."

Nadli said the federal government is still trying to force the Deh Cho into an intergovernmental forum, which would result in territorial-wide resource revenue sharing. With neighbouring regions having already extracted minerals and petroleum products from their lands, the Deh Cho gets the short end of the stick while others will benefit from virtually undeveloped, resource-rich Deh Cho lands, Nadli argued.

Aitken countered that Indian Affairs and Northern Development Minister Robert Nault has stated that the Deh Cho will not be penalized in negotiations for refusing to join the inter-governmental forum.