Yellowknife (Mar 21/03) - Some Deh Cho aboriginal leaders are bristling over a portion of the GNWT's draft energy discussion paper.

The document makes reference to "as much as 11,000 megawatts" of hydro power that could be produced in the NWT.

Grand Chief Michael Nadli has written an open letter to Jim Antoine, minister of resources, pointing out that 3,640 of those potential megawatts would come from the Deh Cho.

That's unacceptable because it would result in flooding, according to Nadli.

Based on two 32-metre high dams proposed in a 2001 presentation by Joe Handley, resources minister at the time, the DCFN has calculated that 2,095 square kilometres of land would be engulfed by water.

Redknife, a traditional gathering area between Fort Simpson and Fort Providence, and Rabbitskin would be among the areas submerged. Rabbitskin is a traditional area an hour up-river from Fort Simpson. It's where a few Fort Simpson families used to live, including Jim Antoine's parents and siblings, Nadli noted.

"We're quite appalled that the (energy) strategy continues to promote the idea of dams, especially on the Deh Cho," he said. "It goes to the very heart of the region. We're looking at two lakes being formed."

The DCFN had passed a resolution at its 2001 fall leadership meeting calling upon the GNWT to abandon any such plan. At that time, Handley gave his assurance that the territorial government would not proceed with any hydro project in the Deh Cho without the DCFN's consent, according to Nadli.

Jim Antoine, the current minister of resources, was on duty travel and unavailable for comment on Monday. Bob McLeod, deputy minister of resources, said the Towards an Energy Strategy document simply makes reference to the NWT's hydro potential, which is factual. He added that the GNWT still won't press ahead with hydro projects unilaterally.

"The discussion paper talks in terms of partnerships with aboriginal governments. I don't think there was any intention that we're changing anything," said McLeod.

"There are other aboriginal groups that are willing to work together to explore the potential, so we're working with them."

Nadli said small hydro projects are not out of the question depending on the outcome of research conducted by the DCFN's land-use planning committee. Certain tributaries that would have minimal effects on the land or the people would "have to be considered, but we're not at that stage yet," he said.