Paul Bickford
Northern News Services
Monday, April 16, 2007

HAY RIVER - Herb Norwegian believes, if members of West Point First Nation can't agree to work together, they might have to face the "ultimate option" of disbanding.

However, the grand chief of Dehcho First Nations said he is not encouraging disbanding, just pointing out one possible outcome of ongoing internal disputes at the Hay River band.

On April 5, West Point was placed under third-party management by the Department of Indian and Northern Affairs Canada (INAC), after a leadership dispute led to financial difficulties.

"A band means people working together as a cohesive group," Norwegian said.

If the 73 members of West Point can't do that, they may have to decide on another arrangement, he said, listing the possibilities as some kind of new relationship with Dehcho First Nations, an elders' group or a spokesperson instead of a chief.

Norwegian said West Point basically has to decide if a band is appropriate.

Before INAC named third-party administration, the department asked Dehcho First Nations if it would intervene to help out West Point.

"I thought it would be better for someone else to take a run at it," Norwegian said.

The grand chief noted Dehcho First Nations had tried to help West Point a number of times in the past by helping facilitate discussions and overseeing management, but never appointed a third-party manager.

More recently, it helped pay some of the band's bills.

Under the third-party administration, West Point's finances are to be stabilized, an election code developed and ratified, and new elections held.