Deh Cho leaders unable to agree
Derek Neary
Northern News Services
Fort Simpson (Nov 24/00) - Deh Cho aboriginal leaders are once again turning to the elders for guidance on a weighty issue in the region - this time it's industrial development.
The leaders couldn't agree on the subject of industrial development during a Deh Cho First Nations (DCFN) strategic planning session on the Hay River Reserve two weeks ago.
The question at hand is whether development decisions should be made by communities whose traditional lands are directly affected by individual projects, or whether all aboriginal leaders from the entire Deh Cho region should have an equal say.
This applies to mining, pipelines and oil and gas exploration and development, according to DCFN chief negotiator Chris Reid. Although DCFN leaders couldn't see eye-to-eye on the matter, they did agree to refer the conundrum to the elders' council.
Paramount Resources' proposed oil and gas and pipeline work in the Cameron Hills area, which has now been referred to an environmental assessment, had resulted in some discord among the four First Nations which feel they have a stake in those lands. Leaders from Kakisa, Fort Providence, Hay River Reserve, and West Point haven't yet been able to work out a mutually acceptable response to the Cameron Hills situation.
Reid said the DCFN's interim measures agreement, which still remains unsigned, will bring official recognition to the Deh Cho's First Nations on development issues.
"For oil and gas exploration and forestry, the governments are recognizing that the support of affected First Nations is required. It's more than just consultation," he said.
He asserted that the same approach would have to be taken with mining and pipelines.
Reid suggested that a certain level of trust has to exist among the DCFN's communities.
"Nobody's going to make a decision, hopefully, that would impact upon another community against their will," he said.
As chief negotiator and an observer of the inner-workings of the Deh Cho Process, Reid noted that a trend has seemingly developed over the past year.
"More and more of these big issues that leaders feel bogged down by, they are referring them to the elders," he said.
The next meeting of the elders council is expected to take place in early December.
