Mike W. Bryant
Northern News Services

Fort Simpson (May 24/02) - Eight MLAs passed through Fort Simpson last week to consult with a public that barely surpassed their numbers in attendance.

"I guess this is it," said Special Committee on the Implementation of Self-Government and the Sunset Clause co-chair Sandy Lee, scanning the rows of empty seats at the Recreation Centre last Thursday.

To note, it was a busy week. A Liidlii Kue First Nation band council meeting was scheduled the same night the Special Committee on the Review of the Official Languages Act appeared in Fort Simpson, May 15. There was also a spring concert at Bompas elementary school next door.

On Thursday, most Deh Cho chiefs and delegates left town hours before the sunset clause meeting was held.

But despite the poor turnout, there was at least some discussion at both meetings.

At the Official Languages Act meeting, Jean Marie River First Nation Chief Stanley Sanguez said the government wasn't taking the preservation of aboriginal languages seriously enough.

"Our communities are dominated by TV and radio," said Sanguez. "We tell our children to become the best educated, but what we're really telling them is to speak the best English."

He added that the only minority languages that appear to be thriving in the NWT are Inuktitut and French.

"Inuktitut is so powerful on TV," Sanguez said, and "sometimes I pick up a magazine and it's French. How come in our community we have that? It should be Slavey first, and then English in our schools."

Committee chair, Tu Nedhe MLA Steve Nitah said, however, that aboriginal groups should look to the French community for inspiration.

"The Official Languages Act wouldn't be here if it wasn't for the French," replied Nitah. "They are the leaders at preserving their language."

Mackenzie Delta MLA David Krutko acknowledged that while the GNWT will pay employees to take French courses, there is no such arrangement for employees wishing to learn an aboriginal language.

The committee will release a progress report sometime this summer.

Sit anywhere you like

There were more chairs, but even fewer people in the audience for Thursday night's Sunset Clause committee meeting.

Yet, said Range Lake MLA Sandy Lee, a particular dilemma faces the NWT.

If the Sunset Clause, drafted by members of the previous legislative assembly, is allowed to carry through until the end of the government's current mandate in the fall of 2003, legislative authority would return to the NWT Commissioner.

The sunset clause is what limits the current number of legislative assembly seats to 19.

"From our discussions, we're aiming at repealing it," said Lee.

Mayor Tom Wilson wanted the committee to look into adding another seat in the Deh Cho region.

"I really came here in the intent of having our riding split in two," said Wilson, who noted that he was not speaking on the village's behalf.

"I realize it's kind of like grabbing the tiger by the tail. You add one seat here, and Yellowknife gets one."

It was a problem the committee members were only too ready to admit.

As Great Slave MLA Bill Braden said, the territorial government is not directly involved in self-government negotiations, and as long as they remain ongoing, electoral boundaries will likely remain as they are.

"Those kind of problems are addressed in an electorate boundaries commission, but there isn't one right now," said Braden.

As the meeting wore on, some MLAs grew restless.

Lee wanted to go watch the Mackenzie River break up.

Co-chair Jim Antoine was doodling on a piece of paper as his brother, Liidlii Kue band councillor Jerry Antoine, questioned the committee on discrepancies between federal grants in lieu of taxes and municipal services.

Jim Antoine, however, quickly composed himself and addressed the issue.

Afterwards, he showed off his artwork. He had been scribbling in the faces on an MLA roster page.

Frame Lake MLA Charles Dent had been transformed into Count Dracula, complete with fangs.

The alterations to Premier Stephen Kakfwi's visage were even more striking.

"See, I gave Steve an afro," said Antoine.