Richard Gleeson
Northern News Services

Yellowknife (Jan 14/02) - Aboriginal groups appear to have come out ahead in a dispute over compensation for the impact of the proposed Cameron Hills pipeline.

Initially, Paramount Re-sources proposed compensating only trappers affected by the 15-kilometre pipeline and gathering system it hopes to build in the southern Deh Cho. On Jan. 4 they sweetened the pot to include the losses associated with fishing and hunting.

At a meeting last Tuesday, regulators agreed the seven affected communities will also be compensated for "other resource harvesting activity."

Lloyd Chicot, chief of the Ka'a'gee Tu First Nation in Kakisa, said "I'm glad we pushed it to the point where it is now."

However, he said Thursday he was still unaware of all the details of the compensation package, so he wouldn't say whether his band is ready to support Paramount's project.

Chicot said the Ka'a'gee Tu isn't asking for much, especially in comparison with the criteria that will be take effect through self-government in years to come.

At last Tuesday's meeting a process was established for negotiating compensation. If after 90 days of negotiation the communities and Paramount cannot settle on compensation, the territorial government and the Department of Indian Affairs and Northern Development will jointly agree to an arbitrator within 30 days. The arbitrator would have another 30 days to reach a settlement.

"I think all parties left the table last Friday thinking this was achievable," said DIAND official Bob Mahnic.

The change was prompted by aboriginal criticism of Paramount's initial offering. The Mackenzie Valley Environmental Review Board agreed and recommended DIAND change the agreement.

"We just didn't think the compensation offered was strong enough," said Frank Pope, the board's alternate chair. He added the issue was never a "show-stopper."

DIAND responded by saying its minister did not have the authority to alter a benefits plan. The initial benefits was scrapped and replaced by the more comprehensive app-roach.

As of press time, the minister had yet to approve the change, which is part of the board's report on the environmental assessment of the project.

Aboriginal groups potentially affected by the development include Fort Providence, Kakisa Dene, Fort Providence Metis, and residents of the Hay River Reserve and West Point.

The board has also recommended that the territorial government develop a standard procedure for determining acceptable compensation for trappers and other resource harvesters affected by development.

Calls to Paramount Re-sources were not returned by deadline.