Derek Neary
Northern News Services
Fort Simpson (May 18/01) - The Aboriginal Pipeline Working Group (APWG) is being unfairly criticized for carrying out the necessary work to make a Mackenzie Valley pipeline a reality, says an APWG representative.
Dennis Nelner, who was appointed by Deh Cho leadership to represent the region on the working group, said they trying to put together a package that would encompass employment, training, business opportunities and ownership for the next 25 years.
"We're doing the legwork, we're doing the scouting," he said. "If you're doing a proper investigation you don't take a look at it from the outside ... you have to actually roll up your sleeves and get your hands dirty."
Nelner argued that it's difficult enough to deal with producer groups that have been accustomed to doing business only one way for the past century, let alone have aboriginal leaders be disparaging.
He said the working group has made attempts to keep the DCFN abreast of developments, but there has never been any response.
"None of the letters I have sent have ever been responded to, even acknowledged," he said. "If they were to sit down and talk to us rather than talk about us, maybe we could get somewhere."
Working group representatives are in Calgary this month to meet once again with industry officials.
"By no means are we signing an agreement in principle at this time, that's for the leadership to do," Nelner said. "There's no ulterior motives."
