Derek Neary
Northern News Services

Fort Liard (Apr 08/02) - The Acho Dene Koe want a land claim of their own.

Last week, Chief Judy Kotchea called on Indian Affairs Minister Robert Nault to give the First Nation its own claim, which would include traditional lands in B.C. and the Yukon.

"We're ready to move forward," said Kotchea.

Robert Reiter, the ADK's lawyer, said the Fort Liard band is looking for a claim similar to the Nisga'a 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.

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.

The ADK has sole responsibility for settling its outstanding boundary issues with B.C. and the Yukon, and jurisdiction over its own lands and resources.