Nadli lashes pipeline group
Derek Neary
Northern News Services
Fort Simpson (May 25/01) - Michael Nadli, grand chief of the DCFN, reprimanded the Deh Cho's Aboriginal Pipeline Group representatives last week for not being accountable to DCFN leadership.
During a DCFN leadership meeting last week Nadli said the DCFN has not given its support for a Mackenzie Valley pipeline. He added that it's imperative APG delegates Doug Cardinal and Dennis Nelner reflect that stance in their public remarks.
A recommendation was put forth by the elders' council suggesting that any pipeline running through the Deh Cho be negotiated directly between DCFN leadership and the federal government. The recommendation also called for Nelner and Cardinal to be replaced as Deh Cho representatives on the APG.
Nadli accused the APG of trying to negotiate the terms for a Mackenzie Valley pipeline when he said the DCFN only agreed to a business plan for the project.
DCFN chief negotiator Chris Reid said supporting the pipeline at this juncture would give the DCFN less leverage in self-government negotiations.
Liidlii Kue First Nation Chief Rita Cli vigorously defended Nelner and Cardinal, noting that they too are claimants to the Deh Cho Process.
"Do you think they're going to sell us out? I don't think so. They have too much to lose," Cli said.
Further, Cli said she was uncomfortable with the strongly-worded recommendation being attributed to the elders, adding that she doesn't want them in a position to take the blame if anything goes wrong.
"I don't want our elders to be used and abused," she said.
Nadli asked, if the elders' recommendation was going to be dismissed, "Why do we have our elders with us at all?"
He later suggested amending the recommendation to state that a better reporting process be established between the APG representatives and DCFN leadership, rather than replacing the APG delegates.
"It's got to be made clear that the APG works for the leadership," Nadli said.
Nelner, who was present at the meeting, said he is willing to try to improve communications, but contended that his past efforts to contact the DCFN were ignored.
Judy Kotchea, chief of the Acho Dene Koe, said the APG working group should be given a chance to make its case at a territorial meeting in Hay River next month.
Gabe Hardisty, a Pehdzeh Ki elder, said he understood that the Western Arctic Energy Corporation (WAEC), based in Norman Wells, is also going to make a presentation at the June meeting in Hay River.
Pehdzeh Ki Chief David Moses said the WAEC has a proposal that still allows for 100 per cent aboriginal ownership in the pipeline, whereas the APG is now aiming for only one-third aboriginal ownership.
