New advisor for feds, GNWT on Dehcho Process negotiations
Position announced by Premier Bob McLeod during Dehcho Assembly
April Hudson
Northern News Services
Monday, July 4, 2016
TTHEK'EHDELI/JEAN MARIE RIVER
By mid-July, the territorial and federal governments will have a new advisor to weigh in on the Dehcho Process negotiations.
The advisor, under the title of ministerial special representative, will be responsible for meeting with each band in the Deh Cho to understand their individual perspectives on the Dehcho Process negotiations. From there, the advisor will report back to the territorial and federal governments.
Premier Bob McLeod said the advisor is expected to be announced July 18 or 19 during a meeting between the Dehcho First Nations and Indigenous Affairs Minister Carolyn Bennett.
The position is part of a new approach the government will be taking to the Dehcho Process, McLeod said.
"We've gotten as far as we can with the old approach, and I don't believe right now a new offer based on that old approach is what we need to get us to the finish line," he said.
"There is a new will and a new opportunity to make history here in the Deh Cho."
The ministerial special representative will offer "independent, objective advice" to Bennett and the territorial government, McLeod said, relating to how close the parties are to signing an agreement-in-principle.
"The (representative) is not a government negotiator and their discussions with (bands) will not replace the Dehcho Process," he said.
"The advice of the (representative) will be important in determining how we can reach an agreement together."
Following the announcement, Grand Chief Herb Norwegian said Dehcho First Nations and the territorial and federal governments all need to put the issue of rejection behind them.
"I think we're at a crossroads right now. I think ... the premier doesn't want to hear a, 'No,' and we don't want to hear a 'No,'" he said.
"(We want to) take a more positive approach to it."
Following the announcement, the Jean Marie River chief questioned whether the process was taking the right approach.
"We're talking the talk in the Western way. It just (doesn't) feel right," said Gladys Norwegian.
"Premier Robert McLeod started his talk about stars lining up - you are our stars that are lining up. So why don't I feel that you are our stars that are lining up at that level? I'm not really sure."
NWT MP Michael McLeod told Norwegian one of the things the federal government wants to do is rebuild trust with aboriginal governments.
"We've worked very hard to see some movement, to see a change of attitude, to change the way people are thinking. It's not going to be easy," he said.
"We want to be able to talk about things that will allow the Dehcho First Nations to move forward as a nation."
With new federal and territorial governments, the MP said this is the first time he has seen such co-operation between aboriginal governments and federal and territorial governments.
"I'm trying to stay positive. I'm not saying absolutely (the new approach) is going to work. It may not work. It might come back and the answer will be there's not enough there to keep going. We don't know that," he said.
"But (if) we embark on this review with this person, that will give us the answers. At least it will point to the difficult parts we have to deal with ... It's not going to happen if we don't all try to move forward."
