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SOMBA K'E/YELLOWKNIFE - A group of business leaders and politicians, mainly from Yellowknife, want a better future for the NWT ­ but they're being mysterious about how they'll go about it.

"We're just here as residents of NWT," said Mike Freeland, owner of Blachford Lake Lodge at a press conference Thursday. "We're excited to live here, but we want to discuss 'What's the future of NWT?' "

Freeland was one of seven people presenting "A Declaration for the NWT" ­ a vision to address future challenges faced by the territory.

The group, including Yellowknife Mayor Gord Van Tighem, and Richard Morland, acting president of the Ekati Diamond Mine, did not want to be associated by their formal titles ­ and would not say who sponsored their cause.

"It's not about us, it's about the North ­ it's about the future of the North," said Lesley Allen, a former bureaucrat with the territorial government. "We're hoping it goes beyond us."

Other group members who were not at the press conference included Premier Floyd Roland, Brendan Bell, former NWT cabinet minister, and Ricus Grimbeek, head of BHP Billiton, said Van Tighem.

The group was co-sponsored by individuals and different businesses, said Deana Twissell, BHP Billiton's external affairs officer.

"Some people prefer to remain anonymous as to what their contribution was," said Freeland.

When pressed, Morland said various companies the members work for gave contributions to pay for recent full-page colour newspaper advertisements and a website.

"We said, 'Let's be a little bit mysterious. Let's put an ad in the paper and let's see what kind of attention it draws," said Twissell.

The idea was not started by a single person or company, but a number of people who said, "We should really do something," said Freeland.

"It was just kind of a viral thing," said Kelly Cumming, another person on the panel, when asked why there was no aboriginal representation in the group. "We didn't seek out any groups."

They had several meetings and came up with the list of seven "possibilities" for the territory.

But before any positive change is possible, we must acknowledge the "brutal facts" that exist, said Graeme Smith, an economist who has a consulting company in Yellowknife.

For example, the territory won't always be able to count on the diamond industry for economic activity, he said. In 20 years, the mines could all be closed.

"So what is the future of this economy?" he asked. Social and environmental issues also must be addressed, he said.

"If you are shooting at a target or goal, you have to see that target and see that goal," said Van Tighem.

Freeland said he got involved with the group because he wants a bright future for his daughter and granddaughter.

"I'm worried about where the North is going," he said in an interview, mentioning the faltering economy and social problems with drugs, alcohol and homelessness.

It's a huge task to confront such problems, he admitted.

"But what's exciting for me is even though I'm just a resident of the North, I know I can make a difference."

It's that attitude the group hopes will spur a movement.

"Start a conversation with your friends or your work associates," Freeland said. "What can we do about it? Whatever that answer is, it's a good answer," he said.

Morland said he hopes people will come up with their own variations of the declaration.

"You'll eventually have a critical mass of people ready to make change," he said.

"We would like to see more ground-swell of the rest of the territory becoming engaged ­ versus leaving it to others to take care of it on their behalf," added Twissell.

The group said they don't have any concrete plans for next steps ­ but would rather see NWT residents emerge to take on the cause themselves.