The western coalition called a media briefing Tuesday to, in the words of chairman Floyd Roland, "bring the people we represent up to date on the work we've been doing."

However, the group is not releasing any details on its work.

One such detail is a GNWT report describing general principles upon which division of government assets and liabilities between Nunavut and the West.

That, said Roland and fellow MLA Seamus Henry, is an "internal document."

"There has to be some consideration that everything will not be put out in the open," explained Roland when asked why the document is not public. "We don't want to be negotiating through the media."

In addition to the Inuvik MLA and Henry, member for Yellowknife South, the group includes representatives of private and aboriginal business as well as western municipalities.

Roland said it has yet to be decided if a response the coalition is preparing to the GNWT paper would be made public.

"Once we come up with the report it will be dealt with internally to start with ... and we'd have to look at all the positions being taken around the table."

Another coalition member reported that after the meeting the group elected to channel all media questions relating to the conference through Roland.

The coalition is responsible for making recommendations to the territorial government on the division of assets, funding for division and the new western government.

Nellie Cournoyea, a member of the group from the Beaufort-Delta area, noted the federal government will be negotiating funding for the Yukon at the same time Nunavut and the West will be hunting for a piece of the pie.

She said it is critical the West impress upon the federal government the potential for development it possesses.