Kakisa (Jul 07/06) - Ka'a'Gee Tu First Nation has won a court case against Paramount Resources Ltd. and the Mackenzie Valley Land and Water Board.

On June 29, the NWT Supreme Court quashed six land and water permits issued to Paramount Resources in January for well sites in the Cameron Hills area.

In listing her reasons for judgment, Justice Virginia Schuler said the six wells should have undergone a preliminary screening before the Mackenzie Valley Land and Water Board issued the permits.

A preliminary screening is the step before an environmental assessment.

Chief Lloyd Chicot of the Ka'a'Gee Tu First Nation in Kakisa said the ruling has been well received in the community.

"The ones who have been told are really happy they ruled in their favour," said Chicot.

The judgment follows a long struggle to make the board follow through with the environmental process and consultation, said Chicot. He hopes the ruling will make the board follow the detailed steps of the process in the future.

Residents of Kakisa argue that if anything happens during the proposed oil and gas development they will be the ones effected because it's on their traditional lands.

During the court case, Chicot said he wanted to gather political support and funding from bands in the surrounding communities of Fort Providence and Hay River, but none came. Chicot said this is unfortunate because everyone will benefit from the ruling.

Looking into the future, Chicot said he sees the Dehcho Process as a unique opportunity for changes in the process of granting permits that would allow the concerns of First Nations to be heard more clearly and acted upon.

Bob Wooley, the executive director for the Mackenzie Valley Land and Water Board, said that in the board's opinion the preliminary screening had already been covered.

During an environmental assessment in 2004 the board looked at a future projection for work by Paramount in the Cameron Hills area including up to 50 wells over a period of 15 to 20 years. It was assumed that the projects that came after that assessment were included in that studies, said Wooley.

The effect of the court's ruling is not yet clear, he added. "It's a fairly unique situation," Wooley said.

The board plans to thoroughly review the court's decision before deciding if it will move forward with the suggestions or ask for an appeal.

Paramount Resources could not be contacted before press time.