Jason Unrau
Northern News Services
Monday, May 14, 2007

YELLOWKNIFE - The deal Joe Handley wanted on devolution and a more equitable share of resource royalties is still a ways off, but an agreement in principle between the GNWT, Gwich'in, Inuvialuit, Sahtu and NWT Metis Nation announced Wednesday moved the territories a step closer to the prize.

"The main significance is it says to the federal government 'let's get this thing finished,'" said Handley in the Great Hall of the legislative assembly after he revealed the news in his sessional statement. "We're going to the federal government with one position and it's this solidarity that we haven't had before."

Handley called the agreement "inclusive" adding that the Dehcho, Akaitcho and Tlicho - not yet signatories of the AIP - were welcome anytime

"It's really in their hands (and) if they chose to do it on their own, that's their call,"

Indian and Northern Affairs Minister Jim Prentice said that, "We didn't have to have 100 per cent on side," to strike the AIP, added Handley

At the beginning of the 15th Legislative Assembly, Handley made it the government's priority to ink a revenue sharing and devolution deal with Ottawa before his term as premier was up. However, with several outstanding aboriginal land claims and those completed in various stages of self-government implementation, it was difficult to reach consensus on how to best approach the federal government.

In January, the Aboriginal Summit - formed by NWT's claimant groups to present a united front in negotiations between the feds and GNWT - came apart at the seams as groups dropped off, opting to go it alone. But with the AIP, it appears Handley has managed to bring several of the aboriginal governments together and the door is open for the remaining three.

"As governments of the NWT we must be united in order to get one step closer to making devolution and resource revenue sharing a reality so that together we can get the best deal for all Northerners," said Fred Carmichael, Gwich'in Tribal Council president, of the AIP.

Under the AIP, aboriginal governments will collectively receive 25 per cent of the net fiscal benefit of whatever portion of resource royalties the federal government decides to share with the NWT. As the aboriginal self-governments mature and begin taking on more service delivery responsibilities, their share would increase.