DEH CHO
Political figures from the Deh Cho Region are unhappy with the apparent contradiction in Premier Bob McLeod's public support for the Dehcho Process and the privately written suggestion he would terminate the decades-long negotiations if an impasse remains beyond next month.
Nonetheless, they are hopeful the rocky relationship between the territorial government and the First Nations group can be fixed and negotiations can move forward.
A Feb. 20 letter from McLeod to Dehcho First Nations Grand Chief Herb Norwegian strongly suggests the territorial government will end the Dehcho Process if its latest deal isn't accepted.
"If we remain at impasse in April, we will have to consider termination of the Dehcho Process negotiations," the letter states, confirming what Norwegian has said publicly for the last two months.
McLeod's spokesperson Shaun Dean skirted the contradictory nature of the letter when reached for comment March 20.
"The GNWT does not feel that allegations exchanged in the media is serving the people of the Dehcho well. Our preference has always been for a negotiated solution," wrote Dean in an e-mailed statement.
Joachim Bonnetrouge, chief of Deh Gah Got'ie Koe First Nations, said the fact the premier has been saying one thing in public and another privately in communication with the Dehcho First Nations is problematic.
"I'm concerned about the negotiations," said Bonnetrouge. "It hasn't been sounding too good. If that's the way it goes, that's too bad."
Lloyd Chicot, chief of Ka'a'gee Tu First Nation in Kakisa, said having to go back to his community and try to explain that negotiations aren't happening and why is difficult.
"It's tough to sit down with my council and tell them the negotiations are over, and it's only happened since the GNWT stepped to the table," Chicot said. "It's frustrating at the community level."
Chicot said in meetings with the premier in late 2014, commitment to negotiations was given to Deh Cho leaders, however, he said that seems to have changed since.
"He said there were differences but that we could work them out," Chicot said. "He said one thing and did something different. It's really disheartening. It's not negotiations. It's a bullying tactic and we won't stand for it."
Deh Cho MLA Michael Nadli said the the territorial government's strong-arm approach neglects the fact there are two other parties at the negotiating table - including the federal government - and the contradictions coming from McLeod concern him greatly.
"I think it's unfair," he said of the premier's letter and its apparent threat to unilaterally terminate the Dehcho Process. "There are three parties in the negotiation process, and I think all three parties need to decide themselves if they have reached an impasse."
When asked about the negotiations by Nahendeh MLA Kevin Menicoche in the legislative assembly on March 11, the premier characterized the Dehcho First Nations' complaints as "the boy who cried wolf."
"The Government of the Northwest Territories has never left the table," he said. "We've never said we would not negotiate. We are prepared to negotiate. The Dehcho First Nations has gone through great contortions to show otherwise."
In an interview with the Deh Cho Drum, Menicoche said both sides remain far apart, adding he is displeased with the premier's misleading statements in the legislative assembly when questioned about the negotiations.
"That was his stand at the time that they never left the table," said Menicoche. "It's new information for me as well. The Dehcho position is that we're willing to talk and we're 7,000 km away from getting back to the table.
"It's disconcerting he'd say one thing in the public and another thing in the correspondence. You know, he's a good negotiator, he brought devolution home and then he's gone and done this. It's worrisome."
McLeod's office said the premier was out of the country and unavailable for comment when contacted March 25.
McLeod's Feb. 20 letter paints a picture of two sides remaining far apart on issues of land and subsurface rights, and that because of the differences a "fair and reasonable" agreement can't be reached.
"At this time the honourable thing to do is acknowledge that there is not enough common ground on these fundamental matters, and to suspend main table negotiations," McLeod wrote in the letter.
Bonnetrouge said the take-it-or-leave-it offer from the territorial government rejecting the Dehcho First Nations' land request of nearly 50,000 square kilometres is a glaring issue.
"It's not much of a negotiation," he said. "We have never left the table and I'm suggesting the negotiations go on and it's unfortunate a lot of negative things are going on in the press.
"Relationships have soured and I think they can be patched up. My hope is the premier will come back to the table."
McLeod has publicly denied the territorial government has threatened to end the Dehcho Process on at least three occasions: in the legislative assembly on Feb. 4 and again on March 11 and in a March 13 interview with the Deh Cho Drum.
