Jorge Barrera
Northern News Services

Yellowknife (June 03/02) - The Minister of Indian and Northern Affairs is now denying he offered to personally intervene in a decade-long boundary dispute between two territorial First Nations.

"What he did commit to is offering his assistance through the department to help bring the two sides together," Robert Nault's press secretary, Nancy Pine, said last week.

But Nault told News/North April 3 he would personally intervene in a boundary dispute between the Dogrib Treaty 11 and Akaitcho Treaty 8 nations.

And back in January, Pine told News/North the minister "raised the possibility" with the Akaitcho chiefs during a meeting earlier the same month.

Akaitcho Chief Richard Edjericon said Nault told the chiefs the same month he would sit down with the two feuding nations in February.

Pine said it is inappropriate for the minister to personally try to solve a dispute.

"It is up to the two parties to solve it on their own," she said.

The Akaitcho chiefs launched federal court action against the minister over the issue late last month.

They want to stop the Dogrib land claim until the boundary issue is settled. The Dogrib could initial a final agreement as early as Aug. 5.

Don Balsillie, Akaitcho chief negotiator, said they launched legal action after Nault's department failed to respond to a letter outlining how the Akaitcho wanted to proceed with a federal facilitator.

"We gave (Nault) until April 15 and he didn't respond," said Balsillie.

Balsillie said Nault began changing his tune on personal intervention in the last two months.

"Since (an April 3) meeting he has changed somewhat," said Balsillie. "The impression I got is that he figured somebody is going to be dissatisfied with any decision he made."

The two nations are arguing over a swath of land between Lutsel K'e and Boundary Creek, just outside of Yellowknife.