Fort Simpson (Feb 25/05) - Six First Nations have been trying to pilot a takeover of two Fort Simpson air charter companies, but they have yet to secure the money to do it.

Chris Yarrow, owner of Wolverine Air which is one of the targeted companies, said he's been waiting for the past year and a half to close the deal, and he's anxious to sell. He is advertising his business in a couple of aviation magazines and said he'll accept other offers.

"I'd sell tomorrow... the clock is ticking," he said, acknowledging that it's critical for the First Nations to combine Wolverine Air and Simpson Air to increase their chances of success in a regional venture.

Yarrow, who has owned Wolverine Air since 1993, said he's ready to move on for personal reasons.

Ted Grant, owner of Simpson Air, has agreed to manage the new regional airline - tentatively called Nahendeh Air - for three years.

First Nations in Fort Simpson, Wrigley, Nahanni Butte, Trout Lake, Kakisa and Jean Marie River are aiming to capture business opportunities associated with tourism and industrial development, especially a proposed Mackenzie Valley pipeline.

They are planning to sell some of Wolverine Air and Simpson Air's four and five-seat planes and purchase larger passenger carriers for scheduled flights, according to Keyna Norwegian, chief of the Liidlii Kue First Nation.

Norwegian said the bands need "around" $1 million to acquire the existing assets.

They would require additional dollars to buy new aircraft, she said. The federal government is expecting a formal funding proposal from the First Nations before the end of the fiscal year, she notes.

"How much money is available before then, I'm not sure," she said. "Everything will come into play within a couple of weeks, I imagine."

Had meetings

Norwegian reportedly had meetings with officials from Indian and Northern Affairs Canada in Hay River this week.

In the Legislative Assembly last week, Nahendeh MLA Kevin Menicoche criticized Economic Development Minister Brendan Bell for the GNWT's lack of support for Nahendeh Air.

Bell replied that the First Nations' business proposal needs to be refined. He added that federal funding sources have been identified, but it's up to the First Nations to act on it.