Derek Neary
Northern News Services

Fort Liard (Apr 05/02) - Chief Judy Kotchea is urging Robert Nault to give the Acho Dene Koe their own land claim, which would include traditional lands in British Columbia and the Yukon.

"We're hoping to do a primary claim with Canada," Kotchea told the Drum. "We're ready to move forward."

Kotchea was hoping to meet with Nault, minister of Indian Affairs and Northern Development, while he was in Yellowknife Wednesday and Thursday.

Robert Reiter, the ADK's lawyer, said the Fort Liard band is looking for a claim similar to the Nisgaa model, which involved land selection and extinguishment of aboriginal title.

What that will mean for the Acho Dene Koe's involvement in the Deh Cho Process is unknown. Kotchea declined comment on that question. However, she did participate in a Deh Cho First Nations' governance workshop on the Hay River Reserve last week.

Reiter said the Liard band is concerned about the lack of movement in Deh Cho self-government negotiations. He added that everything achieved to date has only been on paper.

Former ADK chief Harry Deneron attempted to achieve a separate land claim for Fort Liard during his last term, but DIAND refused.

The ADK are seeking tracts of land in the Yukon and B.C. nearly equivalent in area to their recognized traditional lands in the NWT. Reiter noted that there has been an amendment to trans-boundary claim legislation that could work to the ADK's advantage. He nevertheless admitted that "it's going to be a Herculean task."

Kotchea said gaining recognition as rightful users of traditional lands in B.C. and the Yukon is imperative.

"The borders were not created by our people, they were created by the government ... we did not have a say at all," she argued.

"Many of the people who have passed on and who are buried are our ties to the land ... we've never thought that we've lost our jurisdiction over those lands."

The ADK, however, do not benefit from current resource activities on those lands. Kotchea said her people are entitled to take full advantage of those resources.

"It is our land," she asserted.

Harry Deneron was successful in having the DCFN pass a resolution granting the ADK sole responsibility for settling its outstanding boundary issues with B.C. and the Yukon, however.

Kotchea has also secured a pivotal resolution from the DCFN, giving the ADK jurisdiction over their own lands and resources.