Derek Neary
Northern News Services

Fort Simpson (Feb 22/02) - Shane Parrish says the Deh Cho First Nations must decide how it can work with industry on a Mackenzie Valley pipeline before they miss out completely.

Shane Parrish: "What are you telling your people, 'Sit on your hands?'"

Parrish, CEO of the Acho Dene Koe Group of Companies, made it clear to Imperial Oil's Joanne Nutter that Fort Liard wants to employ its companies in the land and environmental aspects of the pipeline project as well as any other possible employment and training.

The Deh Cho First Nations, on the other hand, are missing out on opportunities by refusing to support the pipeline, said Parrish.

"I question the (usefulness) of saying no. If you're looking for a welfare cheque, sure .... What are you telling your people, 'Sit on your hands?'" he said. "Well the project has already started and with that stance you're not going to get any work out of it."

His criticism followed one of the conference's few tense moments when Alison de Pelham, executive director for the DCFN, challenged Nutter. de Pelham accused the Mackenzie Delta Producers Group of proceeding to the next phase of a Mackenzie Valley pipeline even though the Deh Cho First Nations are not supportive. Nutter replied that the producers group is comfortable enough with existing aboriginal support throughout the NWT to begin the project definition phase, which will include community consultations and regulatory applications.

At the request of a few chiefs, Liidlii Kue First Nations Chief Rita Cli later publicly clarified that DCFN staff are not speaking on behalf of elected officials.

"The people are the ones who elected us and the people are the ones who are going to say what happens," Cli told the delegates. Each community will decide on its own development projects, she said.

Parrish said local people missed out on opportunities associated with the Norman Wells pipeline decades ago.

"If you're waiting for the day when they start laying pipe, it's too late," he said.