Kakisa (July 04/03) - Before electing a new grand chief, Ka'a'gee Tu Chief Lloyd Chicot wanted to know whether the Deh Cho First Nations still stand united.

On the 10th anniversary of the Deh Cho Declaration, which asserts aboriginal rights to the land, Chicot told his fellow leaders the top priority seems to have shifted to protecting core funding from the federal government rather than protecting the land.

"We're here as keepers and protectors of the land that sustains our people," Chicot said.

Roy Fabian, chief of the Hay River reserve, added that some elders believe the Deh Cho has become fragmented because of a potential Mackenzie Valley pipeline and other issues.

Floyd Bertrand, chief of Fort Liard's Acho Dene Koe First Nation, noted that the question of unity continuously arises within the DCFN. He said he feels it's because of outside influence, namely industry. But as long as everyone agrees with the Deh Cho Declaration, then the Deh Cho remains strong as a nation, Bertrand contended.

Chief Keyna Norwegian said the Liidlii Kue First Nation (LFKN) has raised concerns about the DCFN's finances, strategic planning and the inclusiveness and economic benefits of the Deh Cho Process. She also acknowledged that it's hard to please all 13 DCFN organizations.

"There's always going to be conflict. There's always going to be distrust in people... we want our questions met," Norwegian said, adding that the LKFN is willing to support the Deh Cho Process but wants to strengthen it. "Is this the best we can do?" she asked.

Pehdzeh Ki Chief Tim Lennie pledged his allegiance to the Deh Cho Declaration.

"When I talk to industry this is what I use, this is what I stand on," he said, holding up a copy of the Declaration. "My heart and soul is in this document."

Nadli acknowledged that the Deh Cho Dene may be accused of constantly looking into the past. He said they do so to remember who they are, and that helps carry them forward.

Signed in 1993, the Deh Cho Declaration reads:

We the Dene of the Deh Cho have lived on our homeland according to our own laws and systems of government since time immemorial.

Our homeland is comprised of the ancestral territories and waters of the Deh Cho Dene. We were put here by the Creator as keepers of our waters and lands.

The peace treaties of 1899 and 1921 with the non-Dene recognize the inherent political rights and powers of the Deh Cho First Nation. Only sovereign peoples can make treaties with each other. Therefore our aboriginal rights and titles and oral treaties cannot be extinguished by any Euro-Canadian government.

Our laws from the Creator do not allow us to cede, release, surrender or extinguish our inherent rights. The leadership of the Deh Cho upholds the teaching of the elders as the guiding principles of Dene government now and in the future.

Today we reaffirm, assert and exercise our inherent rights and powers to govern ourselves as a nation.

We the Dene of the Deh Cho stand firm behind our First Nation government.

Here's a summary of other resolutions passed at the Deh Cho Assembly in Kakisa last week:

• Transboundary negotiating teams have been formed to address overlap issues with the Yukon and British Columbia.
• The settlement of Enterprise may be included in the Deh Cho Process with approval from Deh Cho leaders and subject to the terms of a memorandum of intent.
• The Metis are to receive a portion of the negotiations budget and an assistant negotiator will address Metis specific issues in the second phase of negotiations. Furthermore, the DCFN support Metis-Dene descendants in qualifying equally for all GNWT and federal funding and economic development dollars.
• DCFN leaders and delegates support Fort Providence's Mackenzie River bridge proposal along with the necessary environmental permits required to build, own and operate the Deh Cho bridge.
• Beginning next year, the DCFN will award up to 12 scholarships of $2,000 apiece.
• An elders council will create a budget of $75,000, and elders are to be reinstated to the executive committee.
• To help cover the Deh Cho Economic Corporation's base operating budget, $137,000 will be drawn down from the DCFN's general fund for the fiscal year 2003-04.