by Mark Sproxton
Northern News Services

NNSL (May 05/97) - The Sahtu community of Deline hopes to become the first in the NWT to govern itself.

And it wants to get the new powers by the beginning of the next millennium.

The Deline self-government negotiating team tabled its government structures and procedures proposal with the federal and territorial governments April 21.

By April 1, 1999, Deline hopes to have an agreement in principle in place, said Danny Gaudet, chief negotiator.

"This is good news," he said. "We're asking for complete legislative authority for things affecting us in our district."

Under the 1993 Sahtu Dene and Metis Comprehensive Land Claim Agreement, residents can negotiate self-government on a regional or community by community basis.

While pursuing the initial stages of self-government talks, negotiators realized the community may be better off leaving some areas under other jurisdictions.

"With education, we'll be better served if it's done at the regional or territorial level," Gaudet said. "If we started our own system, we wouldn't be recognized."

Other issues that have to be dealt with include the transfer of lands from Ottawa and where taxes and royalty revenues should flow.

Deline decided to go the community self-government route when it was determined that negotiating at a regional level may not achieve everything residents want, Gaudet said.

The schedule to discuss the process could be completed by June, then talks on the agreement in principle can begin.

Catherine MacQuarrie, director of aboriginal and territorial relations with the Department of Indian and Northern Affairs, said Deline is currently the only community in the North pursuing self-government.

Although no other community in the region has indicated a desire to pursue the same goal, she said that option is still there for those that do.