LUTSEL K'E/SNOWDRIFT
Lutsel K'e Dene First Nation and the territorial government are working towards a "made-in-the-North" agreement on Thaidene Nene which could leave the possibility for mineral development within the proposed reserve.

Caribou cross over a patch of land near the east arm of Great Slave Lake. Lutsel K'e Dene First Nation and the federal government have been in negotiations to turn this area into Thaidene Nene National Park, but after devolution the territorial government is aiming for a Northern approach to the proposed reserve. - NNSL file photo

Talks that have been taking place between the parties could be concluded this summer, say officials from both groups.

"We have compressed probably two to three years of the old traditional style negotiating into literally a very few months," said Environment Minister Michael Miltenberger. "And we're going to continue that extremely compressed process so we can try to resolve this before the end of summer."

He added negotiations around establishing the 33,500 square kilometre park reserve that encompasses the east arm of Great Slave Lake will also include other groups, such as the NWT Metis Nation, the Yellowknives Dene and the Deninu Kue First Nation.

"We also want to consult in the next few weeks and months or so with the other aboriginal governments of the Northwest Territories," he said.

The negotiators are going for a made-in-the-North approach to the park, which means Northern values will be incorporated into its s management strategy, said Lutsel K'e Dene First Nation (LKDFN) chief negotiator Steve Nitah.

"I think it's important that Northerners and aboriginal people know that their usage of Thaidene Nene is not going to be impeded in any way," he said.

While parks in other jurisdictions have rules restricting firearms and vehicle usage, Nitah said rules in Thaidene Nene would reflect Northerners' unique needs.

"We value the fact that in the Northwest Territories, people that go into Thaidene Nene should be able to go in there and protect themselves by bringing rifles and other things that they could use on the land if they need to protect themselves from bears and stuff like that," he said. "The ability to bring their dogs into their camping environment, it's very important for us."

Nitah also said LKDFN is not opposed to development. Determining where and how that development could take place is part of the ongoing negotiations with the territory, he said.

Miltenberger said he agreed.

"We want to make sure areas that we know are rich in minerals, we want to make sure we don't lock them away," he said.

The territorial government has only entered negotiations around the proposed park recently. LKDFN has been negotiating with the federal government since the '70s, but now that devolution has come into effect, the territorial government has taken over these discussions. Now, instead of being designated a national park reserve under federal legislation, Thaidene Nene could receive protection as a wilderness area through the NWT Territorial Parks Act.

Nitah said though the players have changed, the goal remains the same - to create a protected area that balances economic development with conservation.

"I think the Government of the Northwest Territories, Lutsel K'e and the federal government want to maximize the tourism opportunities in that area," he said. "So we're all on the same page in that area."

Nitah said part of that balance means establishing an economy based on eco-tourism, which would provide the LKDFN with a revenue source other than non-renewable resource extraction. Creating a tourism-based economy would provide jobs to LKDFN members as well as provide economic spinoffs to surrounding areas, such as Yellowknife.

"Anytime that somebody goes into Thaidene Nene, the majority will probably go through Yellowknife," Nitah said. "They will be staying in the hotels in Yellowknife, shopping in local shops."

Territorial negotiators are scheduled to meet with the LKDFN again in April,

Miltenberger said. The federal government is also being invited to weigh in on the discussions, he added.

"While they've stepped back, they're not left out of the process completely," he said.

Nitah said he believes aboriginal governments will be able to reach an agreement that works for everyone.

"There are a lot of support for protecting Thaidene Nene and managing Thaidene Nene that's going to maximize the benefits for all Northerners," he said.