Acho Dene Koe gets its resolution; Hay River Reserve awaits legal opinion
Derek Neary
Northern News Services
Fort Simpson (May 25/01) - It's still a united front, although a tenuous one for the Deh Cho First Nations.
At the DCFN leadership meetings in Fort Simpson last week Acho Dene Koe Chief Judy Kotchea insisted on a resolution that recognized the Acho Dene Koe's unique position due to its boundary disputes with the Yukon and British Columbia.
It took four drafts before the resolution was finally accepted, but not unanimously. Deh Gah Got'ie Chief Ron Bonnetrouge opposed the resolution, and Hay River Reserve Chief Pat Martel abstained.
Bonnetrouge wanted a clause omitted that states that interim self-government agreements "will apply to Acho Dene Koe traditional lands at Acho Dene Koe's discretion."
Chief Judy Kotchea defended the clause, noting that the Acho Dene Koe want land selections for economic development purposes, unlike the rest of the Deh Cho's communities, which are using land withdrawals to protect the land from development.
Bonnetrouge wasn't satisfied with that response.
"If the concept is working together, why do we need that (clause) in there?" he asked. "Each of us have our own unique situations in terms of resource development ... I want something like this for my community so we're not bound by the Deh Cho Process."
Another troublesome clause in Acho Dene Koe's resolution called for boundaries between the Liard band and its neighbours in Trout Lake and Nahanni Butte.
Kotchea explained that these boundaries are mandatory in order to negotiate with the B.C. Treaty Commission so the Acho Dene can try to claim jurisdiction over its traditional lands in B.C.
A third clause stated that Acho Dene Koe would have "sole ownership, authority and jurisdiction over its territory during and after negotiations."
DCFN Grand Chief Michael Nadli asked Kotchea point blank if the Acho Dene Koe is seeking its own separate land claim.
Kotchea replied, "As it stands today, we are here. If we were not part of the Deh Cho, why would we be here? We are in a unique situation, as you have stated before ... I can't sit here and wait while my land and resources (in B.C.) are being depleted."
Reserve reservations
Hay River Reserve Chief Pat Martel surprised his counterparts by announcing that the reserve would be examining the ramifications of the Interim Measures Agreement and the Draft Framework Agreement on the reserve's status. An independent lawyer was hired to provide a legal opinion this week.
On Tuesday Martel offered no further comment on the situation, but said he and other band representatives would be in Fort Simpson Wednesday for the interim self-government agreements signing ceremony.
Last week band member Roy Fabien explained that people living on the reserve are unwilling to relinquish the reserve's status or any of the rights identified in Treaty 8.
"One hundred years from now I want my great-grandchildren to have the same rights I do right now," Fabien said.
The Hay River Reserve is not considered public, yet the DCFN is negotiating for a public government, posing a conflict.
DCFN chief negotiator Chris Reid said he'd like to see the reserve remain part of the Deh Cho Process while retaining their status at the same time.
"I don't think anybody knows yet how that's going to happen, but we're committed to it," he said.
"I don't see it as anything insurmountable."
