by Richard Gleeson
Northern News Services

NNSL (Jan 22/97) - Local Metis leadership conflicts over the BHP diamond mine suddenly appear to be a thing of the past.

The breakaway North Slave Metis Alliance began impact benefits agreement negotiations with BHP on Friday, alongside the Metis Nation.

Sitting opposite BHP representatives at the table are North Slave Alliance president Sholto Douglas, Metis Local 66 president Bill Enge and president of Yellowknife Metis Council Clem Paul. Representing the interests of the Metis Nation is vice-president Michael Paulette.

Douglas, Enge and Paul spearheaded the creation of the North Slave Alliance, which is composed of the three organizations they preside over.

Yesterday Metis Nation president Gary Bohnet downplayed the conflicts that came with the creation of the alliance.

"There was never necessarily a conflict over negotiation of an impact benefits agreement," said Metis Nation president Gary Bohnet.

"Basically we've agreed to work on it, to get to the table and negotiate," Bohnet said.

Paul said that though an attempt at a memorandum of understanding was unsuccessful, the Metis Nation and the Alliance had reached a verbal agreement on the handling of the negotiations.

"We are the organization representing the people who are going to be most impacted by this development, so we have to be the ones to sign (the agreement)."

Contrary to Bohnet's contention that IBA negotiations never were a source of conflict, Paul said the Metis Nation had at one point tried to secure 25 per cent of any benefits flowing from the agreement.

"That's what started the big fight. We said that's insanity. How can you split up jobs, contracts, environmental monitoring?

"It's our people who are going to be affected; it's our people who need to be protected."

Negotiations are continuing at BHP's Yellowknife offices this week. Paul said the parties are hoping to reach an agreement by the end of the month, but have no fixed deadline.

Signing authority was an issue late last year, when Bohnet represented Metis at a environmental protocol agreement signing ceremony at the legislature.

The North Slave Alliance responded with a letter noting Bohnet had no authority to sign for Metis, and that he had manoeuvered himself into the process.

The Department of Indian Affairs agreed to investigate the Alliance's protest, but has not yet made a decision on the agreement.