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Jennifer McPhee
Northern News Services
Yellowknifer: What are your priorities for the next three years?
Darrel Beaulieu: I think priorities for the First Nation don't change much. It's the chief and council that change. There's always been the settlement of our outstanding claims, self government issues, day to day community concerns.
Yellowknife: Is clearing up the dispute with the Dogrib one of the most important things?
DB: That's very important, establishing those discussions and relationships with our neighbouring First Nations.
Yellowknife: How is it going -- you are now involved in a court battle?
DB: I don't think it's a court battle, so to speak. There has been an application made to look at finding solutions. I believe that is still in the process. As new leaders, we're going to find out the status of that and any other projects the First Nation is working on. We'll be doing that through orientation sessions that will brief up the newly-elected leadership on governance issues, administrative issues.
Yellowknife: What will settling this dispute enable you to do?
DB: I think it's beneficial to everyone in terms of moving forward. People have to realize -- and I've said this before -- that First Nations have lived together side by side for many years. What's complicating things is federal legislation and policies that have been thrust upon the people of the Dene Nation. That's the culprit.
Yellowknife: What can you do about that?
DB: I think First Nations in the North are trying to think outside the box and not be constrained by the limiting factors of policy. And policy can be changed. I'm not saying change the legislation, I'm saying let's be flexible with policy.
Yellowknife: Can you give me an example of a policy that's restrictive?
DB: Well, maybe restrictive isn't the right word. In the comprehensive land claim policies, it calls for boundaries. But what does that mean? In practicality, how do you apply that between First Nations? How do you work all that out? It gets complicated.
Yellowknife: Is there tension right now between Yellowknives and Dogrib right now?
DB: I guess it depends on how you look at it. There could be, but if you look at it from a day to day perspective -- we all live together. In a lot of cases there isn't tension. It's a matter of communicating and being clear about how we move forward as First Nations.
Yellowknife: Do you feel the community here feels disconnected from its leadership right now?
DB: What I've heard is there is a requirement for more communication between the leadership and the community. So it's a matter of structuring that communication, whether it's formal or informal...
Sometimes, people's concerns can be dealt with immediately, or brought up at council. And then there's issues that have to be forwarded to the GNWT or the federal government.
It's not always things you can resolve right away.
Yellowknife: Do you think people know what's going on at council?
DB: All the council meetings are open to band membership.
Another form of information sharing is the Weledeh Gondi that Dane Gibson does for the First Nation. Then there's community information sessions. Again, everybody is welcome to attend any of our offices to talk to management or staff.
People have been asking for regular community meetings and I think that's not unreasonable.
They want a forum to express their concerns.
Yellowknife: Are these community meetings new?
DB: No, we've held community meetings on a regular basis over many years. It's just a matter of how often they happen, that's the key.
Yellowknife: You were chief in the 1990s, but resigned. Why?
DB: There was some other work that I thought was a priority.
Yellowknife: Why did you decide to run again?
DB: A lot of community members contacted me and said they'd like to see me involved again at the chief and council level.
Yellowknife: How does it feel to be back?
DB: It feels good.
