DEH CHO
As the day that devolution will take effect quickly approaches, leaders in the Deh Cho still have mixed opinions about whether the process was approached in the right way and what it will mean for the future of the region and the territory.

Prime Minister Stephen Harper, left, congratulates Premier Bob McLeod on the signing of a devolution consensus agreement in the legislative assembly last year in Yellowknife. - NNSL file photo

On April 1, the responsibility for public land, water and resources in the NWT will move from the federal to the territorial government. The territory has gone through devolution before, including the transfer of authority for education in 1969, forestry in 1987 and health in 1988.

Nahendeh MLA Kevin Menicoche says he sees this devolution as a major step toward the NWT becoming a full province.

"We've always, of course, wanted full nationhood," he said.

"Overall, it is a positive move for the Northwest Territories."

Devolution will bring power over lands and resources closer to the NWT, Menicoche said.

"In the future, hopefully we'll learn to use it with all of the political bodies involved to make it better for the North," he said.

Menicoche said he is hopeful that one way devolution will affect the Nahendeh riding is through an increase in the number of government positions based in the region, primarily Fort Simpson.

As a result of devolution, the territory's public service will grow by 263 positions, about half of which will be filled by Aboriginal Affairs and Northern Development Canada employees who already live and work in the NWT, according to a document published by the territory. Most of the new staff will work in the Department of Lands, to be established, and the Department of Industry, Tourism and Investment.

There are currently plans for eight new territorial government positions in the Deh Cho as a direct result of devolution, seven in Fort Simpson and one in Fort Providence. The Office of Devolution didn't make it immediately clear how many of the positions are transfers from the federal government.

Menicoche hopes at least 20 new positions will be created after April 2015.

"Which is a huge impact for a community like Fort Simpson," he said.

Menicoche also wants to see devolution result in more enforcement and inspections so the territory isn't left with additional environmental responsibilities as the result of contaminated sites.

Deh Cho MLA Michael Nadli agrees that the territorial government will be held to a different standard when it comes to the administration of public lands and resource development.

"The expectation to do better will be high," he said.

But Nadli has a more tempered approach to devolution.

"It's a fairly significant transfer in the evolution of the GNWT, he said.

Nadli was the only member of the legislative assembly to vote against a motion in June to support the devolution agreement. Nadli said he took that stand to support the Deh Cho and Akaitcho regions, which don't have land claims and which also haven't signed onto devolution.

Nadli, also a former Dehcho First Nations (DFN) grand chief, said he was trying to encourage movement from both the First Nations and territorial government sides on key outstanding issues. Nadli said he is hopeful a point can be reached in the bilateral negotiations with DFN so that it can agree to be part of devolution.

As devolution comes into effect, people have to be cognizant that two regions are being left behind, he said. Throughout devolution, the territorial government will have to continue to uphold its responsibilities to consult and accommodate First Nations and also strengthen its fiduciary obligations to them, Nadli said.

Menicoche said he is hopeful that in time, DFN will reach an agreement to sign onto devolution.

"I certainly don't want the Dehcho to lose out on some of the benefits that would accrue from the aboriginal portion of devolution funding," he said.

As part of devolution, the territorial government has committed to sharing up to 25 per cent of the resource revenues it gathers with participating aboriginal governments.

DFN is still engaged in bilateral talks with the territorial government related to devolution. Grand Chief Herb Norwegian said the end goal is to make sure all DFN members understand devolution and agree to be part of it.

"Everything is pretty well up tempo. We're still moving along at a slow pace," he said.

DFN needs to ensure that devolution is compatible with the Dehcho Process, which it is negotiating at the same time, and won't undermine it, he said.

"They both have to be compatible in order for it to work properly," he said.

DFN has held a series of community information sessions to explain its bilateral negotiations with local leaders, residents and elders. Concerns that were voiced have been gathered and DFN is currently examining them to see how they need to be addressed.

In order for DFN to sign onto devolution, the leadership would have to agree to it and they would have to make a recommendation to the annual assembly, Norwegian said.

For the Dene, devolution is a big step. People will have the tools in hand to start carving out their own future, he said.

Norwegian noted, however, that unless the Dene agree with devolution, the territorial government won't have any land, water or resources to manage.

"Nothing is going to be given to the people of the Deh Cho. It's going to be something that belongs to us and we're going to retain it and get certainty on it," he said.

The devolution agreement allows DFN to sign on any time before next April. After then, it would need the consent of the federal and territorial governments.