Demand direct negotiations between Deh Cho, government
Derek Neary
Northern News Services
Fort Simpson (May 18/01) - Deh Cho elders say that the Aboriginal Pipeline Working Group has strayed too far from its original mandate.
The elders recommended that Deh Cho First Nations leaders negotiate directly with the federal government on any pipeline through the Deh Cho.
Before the elders made their recommendation, Grand Chief Michael Nadli told them that the First Nations only agreed to have the working group draft a business plan, not to negotiate pipeline construction.
"They should be following what we're saying, but it's not working that way," Nadli said to the dozen elders around the table.
Richard Lafferty, economic development advisor for the Deh Cho First Nations, echoed Nadli's concerns. "We asked them to look for information... and report back to us, but that's not what they're doing.
Lafferty helped draft the pipeline memorandum of understanding signed by all the NWT's chiefs last June, but resigned from the working group over philosophical differences.
He said the working group was granted a $1.1 million budget for phase one of their mandate.
He also noted that it is now proposing only one-third aboriginal ownership of the pipeline, not the 100 per cent the NWT's aboriginal leaders want.
Chris Reid, chief negotiator for the Deh Cho, added that the territorial government has also become a factor in building the pipeline, but he can't understand why.
He said his inquiries to the working group have been scorned.
"All we get in response is accusations that the Deh Cho is anti-development," Reid said.
Elder Gabe Hardisty, of Wrigley, said the current state of affairs is unacceptable.
"They (the working group) take orders from the chiefs, not the chiefs taking orders from them... they're not paying attention to you. I don't like that," he said.
Hardisty suggested that the Deh Cho's self-government agreements should be completed before the pipeline is discussed further.
Elder Ted Landry of Fort Providence added, "If they want to keep doing that, we can say no to the pipeline ... we can shut it down."
