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DEH CHO - Chief Keyna Norwegian of the Liidlii Kue First Nation (LKFN) said the Dehcho First Nations is misrepresenting the band's stance on the Prairie Creek mine.

On Jan. 22, Norwegian sent a letter to the Mackenzie Environmental Impact Review Board stating Ecojustice, which has been retained by DFN, doesn't represent LKFN's interests. Including the winter road in the environmental assessment is excessive and hurts the viability of the project, Norwegian wrote, adding the mine doesn't need to undergo an environmental assessment at all.

LKFN's primary concern about the mine is the possible effects to the watershed. These concerns, however, have already been met by the removal of the cyanide from the mine site and the alteration of the mine's plan so it no longer involves tailings ponds, she said.

By working with Canadian Zinc rather than against it, the band has a better chance of having future concerns addressed and being able to protect the land and the water, Norwegian said.

DFN used outdated information when deciding on their position and should have more fully consulted LKFN before submitting it, she said.

"It's frustrating. We're trying to move forward at the local level and we feel DFN has no authority to do what they did," she said.

The issue of the mine will be addressed at the next DFN leadership meeting at the end of the month, but Norwegian said it's not soon enough.

"I'm worried about the investor's part in the whole project," she said.

In this economic climate, investors are probably reluctant to be part of a project that's undergoing a long environmental assessment, said Norwegian.