Hay River (Jul 03/06) - Karen Felker's bid to change part of Treaty 11 was shot down by the Department of Indian Affairs and Northern Development (DIAND).

The chief of West Point First Nation in Hay River wants the treaty adjusted for inflation to increase support for hunters, fishermen and trappers.

Karen Felker: Treaty payments should be thousands of dollars.

However, a DIAND spokesperson says that's not possible.

"You can't renegotiate a treaty," says Linda Molner, DIAND's manager of registration, revenue and band governance in Yellowknife. "Once you change anything, a treaty is broken."

Felker objects to the $3 per capita annual payment under the 1921 treaty for fishing, hunting and trapping supplies.

The chief has returned this year's $216 payment, based on the 72 members of the band, to make her point. She believes the payment should now be a few thousand dollars per band member.

Molner calls the $3 per capita payment the fulfillment of a legal obligation in the treaty.

Felker argues the treaty was altered when DIAND began sending money instead of following the stipulation to provide actual supplies. "It's already been changed," she says. "They changed the supplies to a cheque." Molner says that change was made 16 years ago. Molner notes that, while bands under Treaty 11 get $3 per capita, those under 1899's Treaty 8 get $1 per capita.

She says the money returned by West Point has been placed in DIAND's consolidated revenue fund.

"It will be held there until whenever they decide to accept it."On June 19, Felker delivered a letter on the issue to Governor General Michaelle Jean during her visit to Yellowknife.

"She said she would be reading it," Felker says. "I'm hoping to get a response on it from her."

The Queen also received a copy of the letter.