Fort Simpson (Apr 22/05) - Whether a proposed Mackenzie Valley gas pipeline will do more harm than good depends on who you ask.

The Aboriginal Pipeline Group (APG) will ensure that the NWT's aboriginal people are one-third owners of the pipeline and are entitled to long-term dividends, according to Doug Cardinal.

A member of the APG's board of directors, Cardinal said the project is a step forward for aboriginal people, who never had any ownership in the IPL oil pipeline from Norman Wells.

The Mackenzie Valley line should not be viewed as a "retirement package," but as a foundation from which to build other business opportunities, Cardinal told delegates at a conference in Fort Simpson last week.

Imperial Oil officials revealed that an estimated $48 million will be spent in the Deh Cho on goods and services during pipeline construction from 2006-2010.

The construction phase is also expected to result in the hiring of 230 people from the Deh Cho to support the total pipeline workforce of 28,500.

Regardless of the economic promise, the Arctic Indigenous Youth Alliance argues that the pipeline doesn't promote sustainable energy and will increase social problems.

"We see it as development that will harm our environment and our people," Jennifer Duncan said.

She said she would rather pass on a legacy of hunting and trapping to her children than a rich bank account.

"A lot of young people see that one of the motivations behind the pipeline is greed," said Duncan.

Wesley Hardisty, also representing the Youth Alliance, added that young people want work, but they are seeking jobs that celebrate their culture.

After listening to the presentations, Chief Roy Fabian, of the K'atlodeeche Reserve, said the Dene part of him wants to preserve the land but the "English" part of him wants to see how much money he can squeeze out of the oil and gas companies.

"How can I find a balance? We've got a lot of thinking to do here," he said. "My heart is with the youth."

Keyna Norwegian, chief of the Liidlii Kue First Nation, said development - whether it's a pipeline, a mine or a dam - is going to take place in the Deh Cho "like it or not."

The Deh Cho communities need to unite and prepare by acquiring funding from government and industry, she advised.

Alleviate pressures

"It's their job to alleviate some of the pressures they have put on us to date," said Norwegian.

Watching on the sidelines was Harry Deneron, who was the catalyst in Fort Liard's foray into oil and gas exploration and development in the 1990s.

Also working for the APG, Deneron has been up and down the Mackenzie Valley and said he has heard the anger from leaders in other regions that are supportive of the pipeline.

The Deh Cho's lawsuit against the regulatory boards and the federal government over the environmental assessment of the pipeline could kill the project, he warned.

"That's the very scary part," he said.