Erin Fletcher
Northern News Services

Yellowknife (Sep 01/03) - The Mackenzie Valley pipeline is the drive behind a new youth group in the NWT.

The Dene Youth Alliance started up earlier this year under the environmental passion of founders Jennifer Duncan of Colville Lake and Elaine Alexie of Fort McPherson.

"It arose out of a concern for the land and people of the NWT," said Duncan.

"We saw there was a real need for grass roots consultation," Duncan said.

"We thought the information being provided to communities was one-sided and only supported the company's concerns for industrial development (of the Mackenzie Valley pipeline)," Duncan said.

"We kept waiting for someone else to pick up the ball and realized it was our responsibility as Dene youth," Duncan said.

Now the grass roots organization is 60 members strong and working to make connections in every Dene community across the territory.

They aim to advocate for the rights of indigenous peoples by highlighting the impacts the pipeline will have to the territory.

Over the summer, Duncan and Alexie made presentations at various Dene gatherings in the territory to drum up support among community elders and leaders.

"We are concerned about the pipeline and intend to have a visible presence in the North," said Duncan.

"We inherit the Mackenzie Valley pipeline. It's our future and we really wanted to involve the youth," Duncan said.

She said the pipeline has a lot of short- and long-term environmental consequences that should be considered before communities give the go ahead.

The Alliance continually gathers input from elders and research-based institutions to distribute to anyone who wants it.

But what happens to the organization when the pipeline either goes through or dissolves?

"Ten years from now we'll still be here," Duncan said.

"This is a life-long commitment. Our role as caretakers of the land will never diminish."

Now they've introduced themselves to the communities, Duncan and Alexie will continue to provide educational material about the pipeline, hold round-table discussions and host a Youth Alliance Summit next summer.

They also want to hire a Yellowknife-based co-ordinator and establish chapters of the organization in every NWT community.

For more information or to become a member, visit the Web site at www.deneyouthalliance.ca.