by Anne-Marie Jennings
Northern News Services

NNSL (Apr 17/98) - Reaction to the new proposals tabled by the Constitutional Working Group has pointed in one direction -- the importance of making sure the public understands them.

Tuesday's official launch of proposals for a new constitution for the Western Arctic saw committee members welcome the new proposals but remain uncommitted.

This time around, the emphasis is the public hearings, rather than meeting a deadline. The last round of hearings was heavily criticized for poor organization.

Bob Simpson, representing the Gwich'in Tribal Council and the Inuvialuit Regional Corporation, said the main focus of the group now is to let the public know there are two distinct approaches to consider.

"Our preference will probably become more clear after the public has told us what their preference is," he explained.

Dene Nation Chief Bill Erasmus said that allowing for public consultation is an important part of the constitutional process.

"If people tell us they have clearly not had enough time to understand and discuss the approaches and they need more time, then we are open to that," he said. "Technically, we have a constitutional conference planned to take place before the end of the calendar year, but we can move that back.

"Right now, we have different models before us and we want to see how people will react -- so we're trying to be flexible."

Metis Nation president Gary Bohnet said that a great deal of focus has been paid to the further development of the government-to-government model -- the least radical of the options being offered -- during the recent round of discussions, but that does not indicate a committee preference.

The other option presented by the group resembles a combined aboriginal and non-aboriginal government model rejected last year.

"The Aboriginal Summit made sure there was a lot of work done on the government-to-government model so the public could understand exactly what the model means," Bohnet said.

Erasmus added that the biggest challenge presently faces the CWG is how best to represent the entire Western Arctic.

"Generally, people have moved to regional or tribal government," he said. "The trick here is to bring those people together at a central level where they can lead and conduct business."