Deh Cho - Dehcho First Nations is in the process of developing a set of guidelines for how consultation must take place in the region.

Murray Somers, a fish biologist with the Department of Fisheries and Oceans (DFO), conducts measurements of existing conditions on Prairie Creek. DFO staff were at the Prairie Creek mine site in August to evaluate Canadian Zinc's proposal to repair sections of the existing winter road. - photo reproduced with the permission of Fisheries and Oceans Canada

It's important to get information out to communities about potential development projects but it has to be done properly, said Grand Chief Herb Norwegian.

Bands need to understand clearly if meetings being held in their communities are information sessions or part of the consultation process, Norwegian said. Consultation plans are being adopted around Canada, he added.

"It's becoming a standard thing," he said.

"It's the way that business has to be done from now on."

The issue of consultation was raised during a meeting in Fort Simpson on Dec. 7 held by Indian and Northern Affairs Canada, the Department of Fisheries and Oceans and the Mackenzie Valley Land and Water Board to discuss permits for the proposed Prairie Creek winter road.

Before heading into similar meetings, DFN and its members need to know if they are information sessions or part of a consultation process, said Norwegian in his opening comments.

"We need to lay down the ground rules on how you are going to discuss this information with our people," he said.

When finished, the consultation plan will outline how often the parties will talk, who will be at the table and will help bands decide if a lawyer needs to be present, said Norwegian. Because it can be hard to get people to attend meetings, the plan will also lay-out the dates of consultations so attendance can be assured, he said.

"It's quite a serious undertaking," said Norwegian.

Indian and Northern Affairs Canada (INAC) recognizes that in the region there's a lack of guidelines on how to work through the resource development process, said Bernie Hughes, a director of policy and planning with INAC.

"We need to work with you," Hughes said.

Hughes said that staff with INAC would like to meet with DFN to discuss resource development guidelines. At a meeting two weeks ago in Nahanni Butte that covered the same information on Prairie Creek a commitment was made to the chief and council to work with the community to develop a consultation plan, Hughes said.

But all consultations can't be put on hold while the plan is developed, Hughes said.

One of the consultations underway is for a number of interconnected permits Canadian Zinc has applied for to open a winter road to their Prairie Creek mine site. The permits include a water licence from the Mackenzie Valley and and Water Board (MVLWB), a quarry permit from INAC and authorization from the Department of Fisheries and Oceans (DFO).

On April 11, the company already received a land use permit from the MVLWB giving them permission to rehabilitate, maintain and use a winter road. The road would run over a 170-kilometre long route that once connected the mine to the Liard Highway near Lindberg's Landing.

Before the company can use the road they need to make repairs on the 10 kilometres closest to the mine site. The road runs along the creek and repairs will displace water so a water licence is required, Hughes said.

Representatives from other local groups added their comments on the proposed project during the meeting.

Canadian Zinc has the support of the Liidlii Kue First Nations (LKFN) as long as the conditions are right, said Dennis Nelner, the senior band manager.

"Our support is there as long as there are economic opportunities for us," said Nelner.

"If there's no economic opportunity there's no support from LKFN as far as the council is concerned."

Because the mine is on Nahanni Butte's traditional territory, LKFN won't interfere with what happens there, but the road is on LKFN's traditional territory, Nelner said.

There are a lot of concerns about the effects that the mine could have on the ecosystem, said President Marie Lafferty of the Fort Simpson Metis Nation.

"I really have a lot of concerns about that water," Lafferty said.

Lafferty added that she thinks the mine will eventually start an all-weather road that would block streams and kill fish.

Currently the Mackenzie Valley Land and Water Board has a draft of Canadian Zinc's water licence written, said Peter Lennie-Misgeld, a senior regulatory officer with the board.

The licence is on hold while INAC addresses consultation concerns. After permission is given from INAC, the licence will be finalized and sent to the board for a decision, Lennie-Misgeld, said.