Roxanna Thompson
Northern News Services

Fort Simpson (Jan 13/06) - Eight groups in the Deh Cho are among the 35 recipients of more than $1.6 million designed to help communities participate in the public hearings held by the Joint Review Panel on the Mackenzie Valley Pipeline.

FUNDING RECIPIENTS Deh Gah Got'ie Koe First Nation: $49,150 Liidlii Kue First Nation: $47,325 Sambaa K'e First Nation: $29,580 Acho Dene Koe First Nation: $49,150 Pehdzeh Ki First Nation: $84,650 Fort Simpson Metis: $47,325 Fort Providence Metis Council: $27,000 Village of Fort Simpson: $13,720

The panel will be travelling to most of the communities in the Deh Cho in the spring. The seven members of the panel are responsible for examining the social, cultural and environmental impacts of the proposed pipeline, said Annette Bourgeois-Bent, the communication manager for the Northern Gas Projects Secretariat.

With only months to go before the hearings, communities are already making preparations.

"It (the funding) will bring the community's issues and the harvester's issues to light," said Greg Nyuli, the executive director for the Deh Gah Got'ie Koe First Nation in Fort Providence. The band received $49,150, about half of what they had asked for.

"It certainly helps," said Nyuli.

The money will go towards a community co-ordinator, a pipeline working group at the local level and professional fees for outside consulting.

In Fort Simpson, Chief Keyna Norwegian is concerned the funding is not substantial enough to educate members of the Liidlii Kue First Nation so they can make informed decisions.

"To really inform our people it's just not adequate," said Norwegian.

It will take $260,000 to prepare band members Norwegian estimates. The band asked for $100,000 and received $47,325.

With a community hearing scheduled for May 8 and 9, Fort Simpson is the first community in the Deh Cho to host the Joint Review Panel. Norwegian said the funds will be used help educate band members and listen to their feedback.

Other communities are still in the process of deciding what areas need to be examined before the Joint Review Panel arrives.

In Trout Lake, Chief Dennis Deneron said the direction for the use of the funding will come from the community. The Sambaa K'e First Nation received $29,580. A decision should be made this week, he said.

In Fort Liard, Chief Harry Deneron is waiting for the funding to arrive before decisions are made about its use. Acho Dene Koe First Nation was given $49,150. Deneron said the community is often told they are not in the impact area.

"We are going to be impacted in some way," said Deneron.