Mike W. Bryant
Northern News Services

NNSL (Jun 21/99) - The Dene Cultural Institute (DCI) Special Assembly was a success, according to its executive director, Joanne Barnaby.

Several highlights of the June 8-11 event, held at the Hay River Dene Reserve, included discussions on the decentralization of NWT language programs, CORE funding, and the role and future of DCI to the Dene culture.

"It went very well," Barnaby said. "The level of participation was significant. we were making progress for the future of DCI and clarifying our mandate for regional assemblies."

More than 90 Dene delegates and 50 of their guests attended the assembly, many of them elders concerned with the future of Dene heritage in the North.

"One of the questions that was raised, was what should the role of DCI be with the regions," Barnaby said. "We advocated decentralizing the role of current language programs to the regions as opposed to the centralized territorial approach with NWT Languages Act.

"A potential role for the DCI would be to conciliate with the various regions regarding the Languages Act."

Hazel Nerysoo, Dene sub-chief for the Tetlit Gwich'In Council in Fort McPherson, said she developed a greater understanding of the DCI when she attended the special assembly.

"I have a picture of where the Dene Cultural Institute is now," Nerysoo said. "There is still a lot of work that has to be done and the financial problems they have been having are still holding them back.

"So now it is up to the regions to throw their support behind them. With the Gwich'in, we have our own cultural institution, but we still need the help of the DCI. I feel that even if the regions are going there own way, we will still need to work together on common issues."

Michael Nadli, grand chief of the Deh Cho First Nations in Fort Simpson, felt the assembly was important for voicing the concerns of the elders who attended.

"It was a good one," Nadli said. "It was very clear that elders had a major input into the role and mandate of DCI. It was very clear that they knew what they wanted for the institution."

Barnaby too, saw the assembly as a forum for better things to come.

"One thing that became clear was the real commitment to DCI," Barnaby said. "It's going to take a bit of time to be clear on the process, but by the fall we should have some real clarity and support."