Concerns remain over Dogrib land claim
Dawn Ostrem
Northern News Services
Yellowknife (Nov 06/00) - Tourism operators say they are getting the runaround on where they will stand once the Dogrib Settlement Agreement is finalized.
Boyd Warner, owner of Bathurst Inlet Lodge and Arctic Services, is one of seven tourism operators with interests on lands expected to be included in the Dogrib claim.
They discussed their concerns in a meeting last month, hoping to have the concerns addressed before the treaty is settled.
"We're worried (DIAND) will bargain our rights away without even talking to us and it appears they are trying to do that," Warner said last week.
The GNWT is negotiating on behalf of tourism interests and have guaranteed operators will continue to be licensed for big game hunting.
But while DIAND has assured other interests such as mining that they are "unaffected by land withdrawal," Warner said tourism is not being given the same standing.
"If we were recognized as a third-party interest then nobody would have a problem," Warner said. "But they've completely left that out of the final agreement."
The chief federal negotiator for the Dogrib claim, Jean-Yves Assiniwi said tourism operators don't have the same interest in the lands.
"If you have land up North, private land, you don't want tourism operators on it as they please," he said.
"But if someone has a mineral claim it is subject to that mineral claim but you have the right to be compensated. You don't have the right to stop it."
The Dogrib say they will work with companies who want to continue to use the land.
"This process is not going to be used to grant them more rights," said Dogrib chief negotiator John B. Zoe.
"Whatever rights they have right now they will continue to have."
Warner said he and other operators cannot exercise those rights without being considered an interest.
"How much can you spend on infrastructure if there is no guarantee you'll be licensed" or able to utilize the land, he questioned. "Right now we're stalled."
Although Warner said he doesn't wish to sound threatening, some outfitters have expressed interest in seeking legal advice.
"We're not prepared to lose this," he said. "It's 20 per cent of the operating area in the NT."
