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Dehcho First Nations open to devolution negotiations Ceremony marks consensus agreement between GNWT and OttawaRoxanna Thompson and Laura Busch Northern News Services Published Thursday, March 14, 2013
The Dehcho and the Akaitcho are the only two aboriginal governments in the territory that haven't signed the Devolution Agreement-In-Principle. Prime Minister Stephen Harper visited Yellowknife on March 11 to announce the end of devolution negotiations. "Our government believes that the opportunities and challenges here will be better handled by the people who understand them best," said Harper from the floor of the legislative assembly. "That is to say: you who live here in the Northwest Territories. Whenever possible, you should be making the decisions about regional matters. That, ladies and gentlemen, is what devolution is all about." Harper's comments came shortly after political leaders signed a consensus agreement, stating they had reached a deal they could all agree to. The signatories on the declaration, not including witnesses who signed later, included: Premier Bob McLeod; Nellie Cournoyea, CEO and chair of the Inuvialuit Regional Corporation; Garry Bailey, president of the Northwest Territory Metis Nation; Ethel Blondin-Andrew, chair of the Sahtu Secretariat Inc.; Robert Alexie Jr., president of the Gwich'in Tribal Council; Eddie Erasmus, grand chief of the Tlicho Government; and newly-appointed Aboriginal Affairs and Northern Development Canada Minister Bernard Valcourt. "Today, we mark the conclusion of devolution negotiations between our governments," said McLeod at the legislature. "With the end of negotiations, we are poised to take a major leap forward in Northern governance and take on province-like responsibilities for our territory – a long-held goal for all of us." The document signed March 11 was a consensus agreement, not the final devolution deal. The consensus agreement marks the end of negotiations between the territorial government and the federal government. Now that negotiations are complete, the draft agreement will be released and public consultations will begin. DFN is open to negotiating with the territorial government about devolution, said Norwegian. Land has been one of the primary stumbling blocks that has kept DFN from signing the agreement-in-principle. The territorial government is trying to get access to land in the Deh Cho that it will use to help run its programs and the government, said Norwegian. It is the same land that DFN wants. "We're a government also and we need this land to take care of ourselves," he said. "Basically what it boils down to is the territorial government is wanting its own little land claim." DFN wants to be able to select its land first in the Deh Cho. The territorial government could have the remaining land or a co-management agreement could be reached, Norwegian said. If any agreement is to be signed, the territorial government will also have to decrease the amount of land that it wants in the Deh Cho. The current number is 45 per cent. "This is a big one for us," said Norwegian. There is enough room in the Deh Cho for DFN and the territorial government to reach an agreement, he said. "We're accommodating, but we need to see the territorial government also have its doors open so it can come onside on these big items," Norwegian said. He's not concerned about the devolution agreement possibly being finalized before DFN signs on. McLeod has said he'll try to accommodate the Deh Cho as much as possible, said Norwegian. "It's being able to strike a balance," he said. Norwegian isn't the only leader with concerns about devolution. Weledeh MLA Bob Bromley had some serious concerns over what exactly the territory is signing on for. Under the agreement, the territory is not getting powers over environmental stewardship, as was previously promised, said Bromley. "We have the authority to go out and mine and drill – and we're encouraged to do so – and we have to trust that the land will be looked after by the federal government," he said.
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