Yellowknife (Oct 29/04) - The landmark Tlicho land claim and self-government agreement came one step closer to reality last week after the final part of the bill was read in the legislative assembly.

"I can't tell you how happy I am to see this day," said North Slave MLA Henry Zoe, whose constituency is in the heart of the settlement area. "The Tlicho people have been waiting a long time for this."

The Tlicho agreement will set aside thousands of hectares in the North Slave for an independent Dogrib government.

On Friday, the third part of the bill -- the Tlicho Community Services Agency Act -- unanimously passed a second reading in the legislative assembly. The bill outlines the structure of the Dogrib government, as well as health, education and social services.

The act has been referred to a committee and awaits a third and final reading in the legislative assembly.

A federal version of the agreement was introduced in Parliament earlier this month and is awaiting a vote from MPs. Both bills need to be passed before the agreement can come into effect.