Fort Simpson (Apr 21/06) - It may be part of a different country, but a lot can be learned from Alaska's experiences with pipeline development, according to Chief Stan Sanguez and MLA Kevin Menicoche.

Chief Stan Sanguez of Jean Marie River, left, and MLA Kevin Menicoche stand outside of a loading facility at the ConocoPhillips liquid natural gas plant on the Kenai Peninsula, Alaska. - photo courtesy of Kevin Menicoche

The two men were part of a group of 10 MLAs and aboriginal and business leaders who travelled with Brendan Bell, minister of industry, tourism and investment, to Alaska at the beginning of April.

The main objective of the trip was to see how aboriginal people in Alaska dealt with investment and business opportunities relating to oil and gas and pipelines, said Menicoche.

Communities in Alaska have similar concerns about workers coming into their areas, said Sanguez.

He learned that while communities have seen benefits from oil and gas projects, they also have to deal with detractions such as drug use and sexual abuse.

Much of the trip was spent talking to members of regional corporations, the organizations that First Nations people in Alaska have instead of bands.

Menicoche and Sanguez agree that aboriginal groups in the Northwest Territories can learn from the unity shown by Alaskan corporations.

The 13 corporations have an agreement where each has to set aside 70 per cent of their profits so it can be divided between the other corporations. This means that no one corporation can ever fail, said Menicoche.

Something similar is needed in the NWT to unify the different areas, said Menicoche.

"Our common enemies have to be greater than our common differences," Menicoche said.

"If we did something like that we would be more ahead in the long run," said Sanguez.

Menicoche pointed out that the Alaskan corporations also use their unity to lobby successfully to reach their goals.

The feeling in Alaska about future pipeline development is also similar to that in the NWT, said Menicoche.

"The sentiment was exactly the same - we are not going to get screwed again," he said.

During the trip, Menicoche also became interested in the Alaskan constitutional law that states one per cent of the value of a new building has to be used to buy aboriginal art.

A program like this would give the arts and culture sector in the NWT a boost, said Menicoche.

He plans to research the law and possibly make a motion or private members bill during the spring session of the Legislative Assembly.