Derek Neary
Northern News Services

FORT SIMPSON (Aug 07/98) - The Deh Cho First Nations is getting its message through to the Department of Indian Affairs, according to DCFN grand chief Michael Nadli.

"The federal government is a lot closer to us now than we had initially conceived," Nadli said through a press release this week. "The Deh Cho team's work is done and it is now up to our delegates at our 1998 annual Deh Cho Assembly to decide the next stage."

The Pehdzeh Ki First Nations in Wrigley will welcome fellow DCFN members for the Assembly from August 10 to 14. There, the Deh Cho working team and ministerial envoy Peter Russell will present their respective reports. The contents will be assessed by DCFN leaders, elders and delegates.

"I'm optimistic. I think it's been a fairly enlightening exercise since we started (on April 3 on the Hay River Reserve)... it's been productive," Nadli said during an interview. "We have made some gains in trying to lessen the gap between the Deh Cho First Nations and the government of Canada in regards to governance, lands and resources. So, I'm optimistic.

"For me, it's an important time for our people. We have to keep in mind our past heritage and the current circumstance of people in the communities -- and couple those (factors) to decide on a direction for the future."

The series of consultation sessions throughout the Deh Cho communities wrapped up in Jean Marie River on July 18.

As an example of "common ground," Nadli said Deh Cho First Nations of Canada will have a nation-to-nation relationship, building on existing treaties.

He also noted that the government and the DCFN have recognized differences on sovereignty, jurisdiction and ownership of the traditional homeland of the Deh Cho, as the DCFN strives to establish a Dene government.

Nadli, almost a year into his three-year term as grand chief, said he sees a promising side to the federal government. By reducing federal transfer payments from Ottawa to Yellowknife, the government has shown the First Nations people in the North have the capacity to structure their own resource development regimes, according to Nadli.

"I believe the Deh Cho can achieve that. A Dene government in the Deh Cho would be able to institute a regime from which equitable benefits could flow to our communities," he said.

On the other hand, with pressure from government and the oil and gas industry to permit development on their traditional lands, the DCFN may chose to respond swiftly in forming its own government, said Nadli.

"We have to have some semblance of control so our communities can derive benefits and have meaningful involvement if development were to occur on our traditional lands," he said. "Perhaps we may have to be very ambitious with time in the context of division."

Other promising government-related developments include "Gathering Strength," Canada's aboriginal action plan, Nadli said. It was formed jointly through Assembly of First Nations chief Phil Fontaine and Minister of Indian Affairs, Jane Stewart and outlines some encouraging initiatives, he said. The Supreme Court's ruling in the Delgamuukw, B.C. case which recognized their land claim and inherent aboriginal rights will also impact upon the federal government's policies in a positive manner, Nadli also suggested.