Yellowknife (Jan 30/06) - Dehcho First Nations opposes hearings into the Mackenzie Gas Project before its land claim is settled, said Grand Chief Herb Norwegian.

"We are still no where close to any sort of an agreement," said Norwegian last week after the National Energy Board hearings opened in Inuvik.

We will do everything we can to defend ourselves and to make sure that our government is not shafted at the end of the construction of the pipeline.

"We are evaluating if it makes sense at this time to take part in something that is totally stacked against us," he said.

The NEB and Joint Review Panel hearings does not require that all parties have reached final agreements, said Andrew Cameron, an NEB spokesperson.

Lack of an agreement has no bearing on discussions at the hearings, which are centred on technical matters, supply and demand and the amount of gas in the Beaufort Delta, said Cameron.

Hearings are scheduled to continue throughout 2006 so there is still time for an agreement to be reached. The Dehcho are registered as interveners so they will be able to have a say, said Cameron.

"Ultimately it's a matter that Imperial and the Dehcho are going to have to reach and the NEB will consider that aspect when it is decision making time," Cameron said.

The Deh Cho said in a press release that no construction will start on the pipeline without agreements but Norwegian declined to discuss possible strategy.

"We will do everything we can to defend ourselves and to make sure that our government is not shafted at the end of the construction of the pipeline," he said.

Outstanding issues with Imperial Oil include access and benefits agreements and annual revenues from the pipeline through property taxation.

The Dehcho First Nations also contend that the economics of the Aboriginal Pipeline Group is biased in favour of the Gwich'in and Inuvialuit and against the Sahtu and the Dehcho.

The Dehcho First Nations say they would receive 10 per cent less than their fair share of the dividends.

"We're dealing with 50 per cent of the pipeline and we're getting the least, that's kind of ridiculous," said Norwegian.

Nahendeh MLA Kevin Menicoche was surprised to hear about the Dehcho First Nations' stance on the hearings. "I didn't expect they would oppose the hearings," he said.

There are still many issues to be dealt with, he said.

"No one wants to address the fact that they can still build the pipeline without the Dehcho consent," said Menicoche.

If no Federal agreement is reached, Menicoche said there has to be at least a minimal level of access and benefits for the communities from Imperial Oil.

Norwegian said they are currently waiting for the new Conservative government to become settled so they can talk about the Dehcho process.

"It's wait and see at this point," said Norwegian.