Jorge Barrera
Northern News Services

Yellowknife (Mar 27/02) - The Dene Nation needs to launch an independent review of itself or risk losing credibility, says an Akaitcho Treaty 8 chief.

"It seems no one cares about this once powerful organization," said Dettah Chief Richard Edjericon in his opening remarks during the Dene Nation leadership meeting Monday in Yellowknife.

Edjericon wants an independent review of the organization conducted by elders and the communities to form the basis for massive changes.

He said he is frustrated by the lack of action after leadership meetings.

"What about all the motions we pass? When are we going to move on those?" said Edjericon.

He also questioned the national profile played by national chief Bill Erasmus and suggested he suspend activities with the Assembly of First Nations -- the main political aboriginal body in the country.

Edjericon said if the chiefs attending this week's assembly do not agree to update the group's mandate, the Akaitcho Nation would reconsider its membership.

"The (territorial government) and (Department of Indian Affairs) used to wait by the fax machine just waiting for motions to come in from the Dene Nation assemblies," said Edjericon. "Now they walk by the fax machine."

Erasmus said that he agreed with some of the points made by Edjericon.

"People have always told us (a new mandate) is needed," said Erasmus in a separate interview. "We have evolved a lot over time but there hasn't been an opportunity to change our constitution."

Erasmus said the organization just doesn't have the money to keep up with the amount of paperwork new motions demand.

"We have no core funding," said Erasmus.

"Our expectations are up here but our funding is down here."

He said if the chiefs want him to suspend national activities he will stop.

The territory's modern history is covered with the Dene Nation's fingerprints.

As the Indian Brotherhood, it led the push to stop construction of a Mackenzie Valley pipeline in the 1970s.

In the late 1980s, the Dene Nation brought all regions, including the Metis, to the table as one body to negotiate a massive land-claim agreement.

The agreement fell apart in 1990, sapping the strength of the Dene Nation when regions went after individual land claims.