Sydney Selvon
Northern News Services

Fort Simpson (Jan 23/06) - The Dehcho First Nations is expected to decide within the next week whether or not it will agree to access and benefits proposals for the proposed Mackenzie Valley gas pipeline.

Keyna Norwegian: "Up to a couple of weeks ago, there had been no common ground." There will be plenty of meetings in the coming months on the Mackenzie Gas Project. National Energy Board From Jan. 25 to Feb. 2 in Inuvik, the NEB will hold hearings on the general aspects of the Mackenzie Valley pipeline, then on development plans, supply and market conditions. Joint Review Panel The JRP will follow up from Feb. 14-16 in Inuvik with opening statements, general hearing/project description and an open session. The panel's first community hearing will be held on Feb. 17 in Fort McPherson, followed by another one the same day in Tsiigehtchic and more general hearings in Inuvik Feb. 21-22. Hearings by both agencies will continue throughout the NWT in 2006.

This follows word that the group received a new proposal from Imperial Oil, the lead company involved in the project.

"Up to a couple of weeks ago, there had been no common ground between the Deh Cho and Imperial," said Liidlii Kue First Nation Chief Keyna Norwegian. She's also head of the Dehgah Alliance Society, whose mandate is to deal with pipeline issues.

"Something was finally tabled (leading to) some kind of movement."

She said a decision would be made "by Jan. 30 or 31."

She and other chiefs met last week in Trout Lake, but the Mackenzie Gas Project (MGP) was not on the agenda. That's expected to be the subject of discussions at an upcoming gathering of chiefs.

The Dehcho First Nations is one of two aboriginal groups yet to reach an access and benefits agreement.

The other, the K'asho Got'ine including Fort Good Hope and Colville Lake, is expected to vote on a proposal in early February.

Public hearings on the pipeline were delayed until this week so Imperial Oil could negotiate agreements with First Nations along the pipeline route.

"We have an agreement with the Gwich'in First Nations. We have reached an agreement in principle with the Inuvialuit," said Pius Rolheiser, spokesperson for Imperial Oil.

There are also agreements in principal with several communities in the Sahtu region.

"Those groups are now trying to complete the ratification among their communities," he said. "We respect their decision process."

According to the Inuvialuit Regional Corporation's latest newsletter, the board approved the motion on the MGP access and benefits agreement and "accepted the economic terms and conditions outlined in the Terms Sheet as negotiated by the IRC Mackenzie Gas Project Access and Benefits Negotiating Team."

Word of talks with the Dehcho First Nations comes just days before the start of public hearings on the pipeline project.

"(The hearings) will allow a full analysis of the project and lots of opportunities for input from all communities," said Bob Reid, president of the Aboriginal Pipeline Group, which holds one-third of the ownership of the project.

However, even if the project is approved by the Joint Review Panel and the National Energy Board, this does not mean the 1,220 km pipeline project will be carried out.

"The real go ahead will be when the proponents of the project will sit down and look at market conditions, economic projections and other factors that would lead to a decision to invest $7 billion-$7.5 billion," Rolheiser explained.