Derek Neary
Northern News Services

Fort Simpson (Sep 13/02) - Deh Cho communities are closer to a regional development corporation, but many questions have yet to be answered.

Michael Vandell, of Fort Providence, has been named interim chair of the Deh Cho Economic Corporation. Wrigley's Mike Canadien has been named vice-chair. - Derek Neary/NNSL photo

Delegates from seven of 10 Deh Cho communities met for two days last week to form an interim board of directors and name an acting chair, Michael Vandell, and vice-chair, Mike Canadien, for the Deh Cho Economic Corp.

"When we submit our applications for incorporation, we need some names on it, so it will be me and Mike," Vandell said, adding that consultant George Bell is initiating the "stamp and number" process.

Organizers plan to ask the federal and territorial governments for start-up funding in a few weeks. That money will help pay for a general manager and office expenses, according to Vandell.

Bell suggested future funding should be generated from within, using profits to fuel other ventures.

Formulating a business plan and a mission statement, identifying specific ventures and determining how profits will be shared are issues that still have to be finalized.

"We just want to get everything ready and get everything approved by leadership," said Vandell. "Then when we have our first (official) board meeting it's going to be time for business. Everything will be done, all the legwork."

Reporting to Deh Cho First Nations' leadership twice per year, he said the corporation may be directed to pursue one or both pipeline proposals.

James Firth, chief of the Inuvik Gwich'in Band and president of the Northern Route Gas Pipeline Corporation, which is affiliated with Arctic Resources Corporation (ARC), made a presentation to the board Friday. Vandell said the interim directors did not accept any funds from Firth's group -- money has been offered to get a legal opinion of their pipeline proposal.

"We had our little caucus and when they came back in, we said we're willing to take their proposal back to our chiefs and councils for ratification and review. We're not taking any resources funding from NRGPC right now until we get this (proposal) ratified and approved by leadership," Vandell said.

Asked whether the Aboriginal Pipeline Group (APG) or the Mackenzie Delta Producers Group will also make a presentation, Vandell replied, "I'm sure they'll be knocking on the door here pretty soon."

Fort Liard, Kakisa and Jean Marie River didn't have representatives at last week's meeting. The next economic corporation meeting has tentatively been scheduled for mid-October.