Paul Bickford
Northern News Services
Monday, July 30, 2007

YELLOWKNIFE - The federal government and a First Nation in northern Alberta have signed an agreement resolving the band's concerns over the proposed Mackenzie Gas Project.

The deal, which was announced July 23, will provide $25 million to the Dene Tha' First Nation (DTFN).

Although most of the proposed pipeline from the Beaufort Delta will be in the NWT, a portion will be in northwestern Alberta, where the Dene Tha' have rights under Treaty 8.

In 2005, the band went to the Federal Court of Canada to argue it had not been consulted on the project. Last November, the court ruled DTFN had a constitutional right to be consulted and have its opinions considered.

"With this agreement, we have demonstrated that Canada is committed to meaningfully consult with aboriginal groups and, where appropriate, to accommodate their concerns with respect to how the Mackenzie Gas Project may affect their communities," said Indian and Northern Affairs Minister Jim Prentice in a news release.

Under the agreement, the federal government will assist the DTFN to address the socio-economic, cultural and heritage impacts of construction and operation of the pipeline, as well as its effects on treaty or aboriginal rights.

It will also allow the DTFN to take advantage of economic opportunities from the project.

For its part, the First Nation will end further litigations against the federal government that would prevent or delay development of the project.

The agreement also sets out a time frame for a federal review of a DTFN claim to aboriginal rights and title in the southern NWT.

"This settlement agreement is a signal that, going forward, governments and industry will work with us to ensure our treaty and aboriginal rights, and our rights as first peoples of this great land, are respected," said DTFN Chief James Ahnassay.