Derek Neary
Northern News Services

FORT SIMPSON (Mar 19/99) - Leaders from Deh Cho communities and representatives of government departments and agencies came together for a conference entitled "Together, building communities" in Fort Simpson last week.

Graeme Dargo, assistant deputy minister for Municipal and Community Affairs, explained that the conference was one of a series to be held in the various regions of the western NWT to provide greater insight into Premier Jim Antoine's western agenda and objective of bringing the government system closer to the people it represents.

"It just gave everybody in the room a sense of direction...where we are going," Dargo said, adding that regional feedback is also being gathered during these conferences. "No one can do it independently of others any more."

In his address, Antoine said the new western territory is redefining the way it governs itself. Among the territorial government's priorities are: a political system that respects aboriginal rights and the rights of all Northerners; greater independence and self-reliance for Northerners; safe homes, free of violence for children, and a good education; access to excellent health care; Northerners benefiting from the North's economic potential in terms of jobs, training and business opportunities; protecting the Northern environment and pursuing a traditional relationship with the land and its resources.

"Are we prepared to work together to realize this vision?" Antoine asked. "The answer is right here. It's in your community and region."

He said the government will work towards advancing aboriginal rights negotiations and developing a new constitution for the west. It will also attempt to gain a share of resource revenues from the federal government and improve the territory's social well-being.

"We recognize that we must be prepared to share both decision-making and revenues," he said.

During the rest of the conference, there were presentations regarding volunteering, building community capacity, First Nations economic development corporations, Aurora College, emergency services, energy efficiency and health and social services.

One of the most esteemed presentations was Fort Providence Chief Greg Nyuli's address on "One Community Government Concept." Fort Providence is recognized as having an exemplary degree of co-operation among its leadership bodies. The Deh Gah Got'ie Koe First Nation, the hamlet council and the Fort Providence Metis Local share joint governance through the "Combined Council Alliance." Through this measure, established in 1994, the political bodies meet at least once every two months to deal with common issues that affect all residents of Fort Providence, Nyuli explained. The Fort Providence Resource Management Board and the Hydrocarbon Plan are examples of joint initiatives, he said.

Within the Deh Gah Got'ie Koe Council, there were significant structural changes in 1997. An elders' council was created and was given full authority over any decision of the executive or Dene council.

"We would like to continue to explore how we can develop a public government at the community level while respecting and protecting the aboriginal, inherent and treaty rights of the Fort Providence Dene/Metis," Nyuli said.

He added that any further developments would continue to be in accord with the spirit and intent of the Deh Cho Proposal. Although it may stand as a model government for other communities, Nyuli said he recognizes that this model may not work in some places because of the wide range of diversity from one community to the next.

"The bottom line is to work together on a common vision, goals and objectives," he suggested. "The challenge is to find the common ground."

Liza McPherson, regional manager for MACA, acknowledged that there is a need for follow-up to this conference and she said the next step would involve bringing together leaders from each community to move forward.

"I look at it as a starting point. Now we know what each other is trying to do...and we're all trying to accomplish the same thing, obviously," said McPherson.