Derek Neary
Northern News Services

Fort Liard (Nov 25/05) - The Acho Dene Koe First Nation isn't getting enough royalty money from Dehcho First Nations, according to Chief Harry Deneron.

However, the Dehcho First Nation's executive director replied that the process for accessing the $1 million royalty pot was well advertised months ago. The Fort Liard band simply didn't apply for any more than the $10,000 it received, according to Alison de Pelham.

Deneron said Dehcho First Nations invited him to attend a meeting where the projects receiving royalties funding would be announced. He showed up for that meeting in Fort Simpson, which was held two weeks ago, but after realizing how little money was coming to the Acho Dene Koe he walked out in disgust.

"I wished they would have told me that. I would have stayed home," he said. "Unreal! I just couldn't believe that."

De Pelham said $150,000 of the royalty money was earmarked for the Deh Cho Economic Development Corp. The remaining $850,000 was disbursed to bands or businesses that applied for a share.

The Acho Dene Koe Corporate Group only asked for $10,000 and that's all it received, said de Pelham.

Calls for applications were advertised on the DFN's website, in the newspaper and on radio stations in English and Slavey.

The issue was also raised at a band managers' meeting in August, she added. The deadline to apply was Sept. 30. A committee reviewed the applications, made selections and Deh Cho leaders approved the choices, according to de Pelham.

Fort Liard is the only Deh Cho community where any significant industrial development has taken place, and it started at Pointed Mountain in 1972, Deneron said, adding most of the royalty money was generated in Fort Liard.

There are families, like the Klondikes for example, whose traditional lands have been affected but they have never received compensation, he said.

"When it comes to that, they (Dehcho First Nations) have quickly forgotten what 'impact' is. I'm totally unhappy about that," said Deneron.

de Pelham responded that the guidelines for allocating the royalty funds were established through the Interim Resource Development Agreement with the federal government. The money must be used for economic development purposes.

Grand Chief Herb Norwegian maintained that Fort Liard only contributed a small percentage of the royalty funds through development.

The bulk of the money came from industrial projects throughout the entire Mackenzie Valley, he said.

Regardless, he said "there's always the next round" of applications and he hopes Deneron doesn't take it personally.

"We make sure that everybody gets a fair deal in all the communities and Liard is no exception," he said. "I'm just glad that they're part of the Deh Cho family."