Derek Neary
Northern News Services

Fort Simpson (Jan 18/02) - Aboriginal leaders in Deh Cho have Robert Nault's ear.

The Minister of Indian Affairs and Northern Development (DIAND) has committed himself to periodically meeting with DCFN leaders other than at the negotiations table.

DCFN Grand Chief Michael Nadli said Nault made the promise during a closed-door meeting with DCFN leadership last Friday morning in Fort Simpson. The first such tete-a-tete has been scheduled for mid-February in Ottawa.

On the topic of resource revenue sharing, Nadli said negotiators for each side are aiming to have an interim resource development agreement completed by March 31. That agreement would spell out terms for sharing resource revenues. The Deh Cho have demanded 50 per cent of resource royalties.

"Obviously we've done our homework and we're very eager to conclude this agreement ... our goal is to set up a Dene government and that government has to be sustained by a resource revenue sharing formula," said Nadli. "There's a keen interest to look at economic development."

When questioned by the Drum following the meeting, Nault wouldn't say whether splitting resource royalties with the Deh Cho is under consideration.

However, he said the final settlement must be "very similar" in total to other land claims settlements in the NWT.

Regarding a Mackenzie Valley pipeline, Nault said the Deh Cho will be consulted, as will all First Nations.

"There's no need, as you well know, for consent to do things," he said. "But we have to deal with these mitigating issues, and that's what the environmental assessment process will deal with."

Forum hold-outs

The Deh Cho have maintained observer status and are reluctant to join the inter-governmental forum, where DIAND, the GNWT and aboriginal leaders discuss the transfer of powers from the federal government to territorial and First Nations governments.

"There's not even anything really to consider," chief negotiator Chris Reid said of Deh Cho involvement in the IGF.

Nault said negotiations with the Deh Cho are in the early stages. He added that the inter-governmental forum goes beyond the Deh Cho Process.

"That point has been made to Mike (Nadli) and his colleagues," Nault said. "We very much hope that they will come to the table."