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INUVIK
A national self-government conference sponsored by the Gwich'in Tribal Council kicked off Sept. 10 with some sobering words from a Yukon chief.

Chief Math'ieya Alatini of the Kluane First Nation addresses the spectators at the self-government conference sponsored by the Gwich'in Tribal Council in Inuvik. - Shawn Giilck/NNSL photo

The conference will explore how the NWT Gwich'in people can achieve a formal self-government agreement with the federal government and the NWT. It's also examining how to engage its youth in the process.

Norman Snowshoe, the vice-president of the GTC, said the organization hopes to have some kind of agreement in place in the "next seven to 10 years."

Chief Math'ieya Alatini of the Kluane First Nation applauded that initiative but also advised the audience that's only the beginning of the process.

Alatini said 11 of 14 aboriginal groups in the Yukon now have self-government. Her people are approaching the 10-year anniversary of achieving self-government, but that was the "easy part."

"Now the work begins," she said. "It took a long time to get to it, but now we have to define how it feels to us, and what self-government means.

"We asked for it, and now we've got it," she added. "We're almost 10 years into it."

Alatini said her experience with self-government indicates that it's necessary to keep pushing people to strive for more than the status quo, particularly the youth. If you ask tough questions and demand more of them, people will raise the bar and expect more of themselves.

"People thrive under tough expectations," she said.

For the Kluane nation, Alatini said the process has been centred on promoting sustainability of all kinds, including social and economic.

In a separate interview, NWT Premier Bob McLeod said much the same thing. While the GNWT doesn't have a formal role in self-government talks, since that's a federal responsibility, he said there's an obligation to participate to achieve the best results for all.

"When the Gwich'in leadership first approached us to help sponsor this conference, we were very pleased to do so. I think the NWT has a very good story to tell, and also can show the rest of Canada how to do things up here. The negotiation of land claims and self-government will be an example of how to do it in the rest of Canada.

"Over the years some of my colleagues have said we shouldn't be involved at all, but I think we feel that we have a responsibility, and all levels of government have a responsibility, to make sure that when we negotiate self-government agreements, that it's successful and it works," McLeod added. "Once all the land claims and self-government agreements are settled, we all have to work together and have a part to play in having a sustainable and prosperous NWT."

McLeod said self-government "becomes more clear the more we negotiate.

"I think that there are lots of misunderstandings as to what self-government will look like. That is part of the challenges, along with financing. Some feel that once aboriginal self-government comes into play, that they no longer have a responsibility, while others feel that it's still part of the relationship. You have to be mindful of the finances, but you also want structures that are affordable."

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