DENINU KU'E/FORT RESOLUTION - A Fort Resolution band is seeking to halt Akaitcho land, resources and governance negotiations, and is threatening legal action if that does not happen.

Chief Louis Balsillie: Akaitcho negotiations need to stop until Deninu Ku'e First Nation concerns addressed. - NNSL file photo

On Nov. 24, Deninu Ku'e First Nation (DKFN) faxed a letter to various involved parties asking negotiations be put on hold until a number of band concerns have been addressed.

Chief Louis Balsillie said the letter is designed to let others – including Lutsel K'e Dene First Nation and the Yellowknives Dene First Nation – know that Deninu Ku'e is unhappy with the process.

"Deninu Ku'e is being left out of everything," Balsillie said. "We sit at the same table as they do."

The Akaitcho negotiations involve First Nations in four communities around Great Slave Lake – Deninu Ku'e (Fort Resolution), Lutsel K'e, Ndilo and Dettah.

The letter was addressed to the generic sir/madam, but was faxed to 12 people, including the minister of Indian and Northern Affairs Canada (INAC), the chiefs of the Yellowknives and Lutsel K'e First Nations, negotiators and others.

The letter states DKFN has become increasingly dissatisfied and has lost of faith in the Akaitcho negotiating process.

"We feel this process no longer reflects us, represents us nor speaks to our future needs and aspirations," the letter reads. "We would respectfully request that all negotiations cease until reasonable efforts are made to accommodate our issues, concerns and future plans."

It adds that, since DKFN is one of only two original signatories to Treaty 8 in the Akaitcho negotiations, the band feels its request must be accommodated.

The letter lists seven points the DKFN wants addressed, noting the current process is disconnected from the band's leadership, administration and membership; the band is left out of negotiation sessions and subsequent meetings; the band does not get its fair share of dollars and resources; and it is not recognized as an original signatory to Treaty 8 and not given the appropriate status and benefits.

"We want to be involved," Balsillie said in an interview with News/North. "We're all working together for our people."

Balsillie added that the Yellowknives Dene First Nation -- the other original Treaty 8 signatory -- has two chiefs involved in the negotiations, while DKFN is represented by one.

The letter points out previous efforts to solve the problems have failed, and DKFN sees no alternative but to demand Ottawa cease the current process until the issues are addressed.

"In the event that this request is not fairly and timely addressed, we are prepared to take legal action to stop the negotiation while at the same time instituting a public campaign informing the Dene, Canada and the world of this grave injustice of hijacking of our treaty," the letter concludes.

Balsillie recognizes the request to cease negotiations will be controversial.

"I think it's going to cause a lot of hard feelings, but it's got to come to a halt," he said.

Chief Steven Nitah of Lutsel K'e Dene First Nation reserved comment on the letter.

"I really need to look at the letter and see what the implications are," Nitah said.

Last week, the two chiefs of the Yellowknives Dene First Nation were out of their communities – Dettah and N'dilo – and unavailable for comment.

INAC confirmed it received the letter.

"Canada is currently reviewing its contents in order to respond to the issues raised," said spokesperson Margot Geguld from Ottawa.

Geguld said, since the letter is official ministerial correspondence, adding it would be inappropriate for her to comment further.

"The response will be sent directly to the First Nation," she said, adding the reply will come from INAC Minister Chuck Strahl.

Early this year, the three parties in the negotiations – Ottawa, the GNWT and the Akaitcho Dene First Nations – agreed the Akaitcho side would draft an agreement-in-principle on its own.

The aim is to have a draft prepared by early 2010.