Jennifer McPhee
Northern News Services

Yellowknife (Oct 11/02) - The City of Yellowknife and Yellowknives Dene chiefs signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) last Friday, promising to share information and establish a better working relationship.

The signing ceremony took place between city officials and chiefs before about 50 people in the Smokehouse Cafe in Ndilo.

"What this formalizes is an agreement to communicate," said Mayor Gord Van Tighem. "The most important thing to me once this document is signed and accepted is let's not leave it on the shelf. Let's make it a working document."

Ndilo Chief Peter Liske said the agreement will hopefully be the start of a good working relationship.

"As soon as I sign the MOU today, they are going to come pave all the roads here," he joked.

Dettah Chief Richard Edjericon said the agreement will help all parties work together, adding he wants to engage in future discussions about city borders that were not approved by First Nations peoples and the expropriation of lands.

The MOU calls for annual and joint council meetings and formal sharing of information including emergency management plans, draft budgets, major planning documents and job ads. It also specifies Yellowknives Dene will be included in the city's emergency planning committee and will play a more central role during emergencies in Ndilo.

Among other things, the MOU suggests a committee to work out more contentious issues, but the document steers clear of anything involving land claims or self government.