Dave Sullivan
Northern News Services

Fort Simpson (July 20/01) - The Department of Indian and Northern Affairs wants to expand its presence in the region.

A new person with expertise in environmental inspecting is needed to meet growing demand from natural resources development, says a department spokesperson.

"We're looking at staffing levels in Fort Simpson, primarily in response to oil and gas activity," says district manager Ed Hornby.

"We want to be ready to respond."

The oilpatch activity is mostly taking place in southern parts of traditional Deh Cho territory near Fort Liard, but political leaders expect exploration to work its way toward Fort Simpson.

DIAND has three full-time employees in Fort Simpson, including an administrator. Two resource officers spend much of their time in Fort Liard, staying in a staff house. They inspect land-use permits and water licence applications.

"We have a process in place where we attempt to staff based on some workload indicators," Hornby said.

"We're reviewing that."

He'd like one more person now and is forecasting a need for two or three extra staff for the future.

"We're not able to hazard a guess as to when."

A Fort Liard office was closed in 1986, Hornby said.

He would like someone with a science background, or a graduate from Aurora College's two-year renewable resources technology course.

Liidli Kue First Nation Chief Rita Cli says it's about time DIAND sent more help.

"Their Fort Simpson office has just about been mothballed over time," she said.

Fort Simpson's DIAND office covers an area stretching from the Yukon border to just west of Fort Providence, and south to the 60th parallel.