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SOMBA K'E/YELLOWKNIFE
Dene trappers are demanding the territorial government halt plans to add 35 more cabin leases to an area around Walsh Lake, saying increased recreational uses are hampering their traditional activities.

Michael Black, left, and Fred Sangris are both concerned their trap lines are being tampered with by recreational land users near Walsh and Prosperous lakes. Black, a member of Tlicho Dene First Nation who lives in Ndilo, said he had 25 traps stolen from his line last week. - Laura Busch/NNSL photo

"It interferes with our way of life," said Fred Sangris, the former chief of Ndilo.

"If there are 30 cottages that go up, who is going to compensate us for loss of our trails, for loss of our lands and for the loss of our way of life?"

There are about 150 people in the communities of Ndilo and Dettah who gather much of their food from hunting, trapping and fishing on the land, said Sangris, adding subsistence trappers in the Yellowknife area generally trap fox, pine marten, lynx and wolf.

The furs are sold for income, primarily through the fur auction held every year by the Department of Industry, Tourism and Investment.

Some of the trapline sites have been used for nearly 1,000 years old, said Sangris, adding that increased recreational traffic on area lakes has led to a dramatic increase in the theft of traps over the last 10 years.

Michael Black, a member of the Tlicho First Nation who lives in Ndilo, said he had 25 conibear traps stolen from his trapline near the eastern shore of Prosperous Lake last week. He filed a complaint with the Department of Environment and Natural Resources but has yet to receive a response.

The wildlife officer who is handling the investigation was unavailable to comment while the file is under investigation, Yellowknifer was told.

In the meantime, Black said he is struggling to feed his family.

"The bureaucrats in the Northwest Territories, as hunters and trappers we don't trust them at all because they're not going to do anything (for us). They've been that way for many years," said Sangris.

"It's like people who live in the city, they don't think that First Nations live around here. It's almost like we're invisible. So now, we need to take all that off and speak out."

Traps are typically marked with ribbons but trappers may stop marking them if they continue to go missing, increasing the chance a passerby may blunder into one and get hurt, said Sangris.

When asked what would resolve this issue for him, Black said that he wants Yellowknifers to "get out of there, you know."

"There's no regard for this beautiful country," said Sangris. "They Ski-Doo all over the place. There's no respect for the lands, or for anything."

Sangris and Black said they and many other Dene people do not recognize their traditional land is under the jurisdiction of the territorial or federal government because they have never signed a treaty or settled a land claim with either government.

"You have to remember, this land still belongs to the Yellowknives Dene," said Sangris.

"We didn't settle any land claims with Canada yet. We still own this land, and if people want to go out and enjoy our lands, then they should consult with us first."

Sangris was among 65 people to attend a public meeting held by the Department Municipal and Community Affairs Wednesday night at Northern United Place to hear what people had to say about allowing cabin leases to be sold.

"So far there has been no consultation with me or any of the members, or any of the aboriginal people who live in this area. None at all," said Sangris to Bev Chamberlin, director of lands administration for MACA.

"Before any of you buy any of the titles, don't do it. You're going to end up in the middle of a court case," Sangris warned the audience.

Chamberlin said she recognizes the need to consult with aboriginal groups and that a meeting is set up to present a consultation plan to the Yellowknives Dene on Feb. 8.

"So we're really looking forward to that discussion and hopefully we'll be able to have more input and more concerns raised," said Chamberlin.

Dave Phypers said he has been waiting for years to have the chance to build a cabin close to Yellowknife.

"I think this is a good first step," said Phypers. "It's about 20 years late."

Prospector Walt Humphries expressed concern about how development would affect mineral claims in the area.

"As a claim holder, you're just making my claims impossible to auction these properties or even work if you're putting all these cottages on top of them."

Chamberlin acknowledged that more work needs to be done to understand the mineral claims in the area and that concerns around the claims will be addressed in the completed framework in July.

Chamberlin said MACA wants to replace the current "first-come, first served" system with either a public lot draw or public auction.

The area in question includes land north of the Ingraham Trail around Jackson Lake, Banting Lake, Walsh Lake and Prosperous Lake.

The watershed development area, used as the water supply for Yellowknife, Ndilo and Dettah, will remain protected from development.

More information about the recreational leasing policy can be found on the MACA website.

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