Yellowknife (May 03/04) - Premier Joe Handley says one of his goals over the next four years is to help First Nation residents overcome dependence on government programs and hand-outs.

Handley was speaking to a full house -- most of them business owners -- in Yellowknife, April 23, for a chamber of commerce luncheon billed "The State of the Northwest Territories."

During his speech, Handley said he often wondered while driving home to his house on the Ingraham Trail how First Nations could have survived for hundreds of years without outside help, only to become dependent once the government moved in.

"We've taken things in the wrong direction," said Handley.

"We made people dependent upon government."

Part of the key to future independence, said Handley, is to reach a devolution agreement with the federal government.

"I don't care if it takes us until two in the morning every night to get that devolution agreement," said Handley as his audience applauded.

Handley also spoke about his desire to split up Resources, Wildlife and Economic Development into two separate departments -- one to focus solely on resource development, the other to concentrate on tourism.

He also wants to boost the territories' hydro capabilities by expanding the Taltson River project and exploring the Great Bear River's potential to produce power.

"That's the way we're going to be able to get a single (power) rate zone," said Handley.

He added that both rivers could produce 80 per cent of the territories' energy needs.