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Dane Gibson
Northern News Services
Tulita (July 16/01) - About 120 delegates from the five Dene regions gathered in Tulita last week for the 31st Dene National Assembly, to discuss common issues and concerns.
Agenda items included a presentation by RWED minister Joe Handley on GNWT Wildlife Act amendments, a presentation from the federal government's proposed changes to the Indian Act, and discussions about the new federal firearms' legislation.
 Matthew Coon Come: "The Indian Act is a continued imposition." - Dane Gibson/NNSL photos |
"The Indian Act is a continued imposition. It is about someone dictating what they think is best for us. Now the Indian Act is being tinkered with," said Coon Come. "What we know is, it does not deal with the urgent needs of First Nations across the country.
"The consultation process is seriously flawed. There needs to be real change; an institutional change, and we won't accept the status quo."
Coon Come says it is impossible to have one act apply to the more than 600 First Nations across the country.
Gun laws under fire
All the delegates had criticism towards the federal gun laws.
"We as Dene people do not want a gun law. We hold a treaty and that's what we live by. We want to govern our own land, that's the way we look at it," said Hay River Dene Reserve former chief, Roy Fabien.
"Many of our people can't even buy ammunition -- we are thinking too much like a white society," Fabien said.
The firearm legislation discussion went for more than two hours. Municipal and Community Affairs Minister Jim Antoine had the final word.
"This is the first time we have had a chance to all come together and talk about it. This law is infringing on your treaty and aboriginal rights, and we hope there is a way we can help," Antoine said.
Pipe talks
Fort Liard's Harry Deneron, who recently retired from the Aboriginal Pipeline Group (APG), spoke to the delegates about the proposed Mackenzie Valley pipeline.
There has been some dissention amongst communities regarding the pipeline, with a showing of support for 100 percent aboriginal ownership of the 600-kilometre pipeline. Deneron said absolute ownership was tried, but not feasible.
"I know it is a large project, but our aboriginal problems are huge and they are bigger than the project," Deneron said. "We want to solve all of our problems with a project like this, and it is not going to work.
"I don't think any one region or one community can participate in a project like this. We were able to sit down with the producers and we were not lost. We didn't hire consultants or lawyers and we showed that we have the ability to match wits with them. We've come a long way."
Doug Cardinal, the Deh Cho's APG representative, said he would like to see the APG's equity position in the pipeline at one-third.
"We have embarked on a wage economy and lets not kid ourselves about that," said Cardinal. "Our thoughts were to own 100 per cent of this project when we first started, but we have to be realistic.
"This is a $3 billion project so we have to set our goal at one-third. That is realistic and if we can work together, we can do it."
The assembly wrapped-up Thursday.
National Chief Bill Erasmus said despite the setbacks, they accomplished what they came to Tulita to do.
"We wanted to ensure that our communities are working together and we wanted to provide the people with the opportunity to speak about issues that are important to them and to reach consensus on those issues," said Erasmus.
