Sarah Holland
Northern News Services

Yellowknife (June 21/02) - After a long day of community hearings in the mid-1970s, then-Justice Thomas Berger would unwind with a midnight game of softball.

Above, Gov. Gen. Adrienne Clarkson enjoys a conversation with the people at her table during the True North Strong and Free symposium on Wednesday. Below, John Bayley addresses the crowed gathered at the Explorer Hotel for the True North symposium.- Robert Dall/NNSL photos

"I was the clean-up hitter," said Berger during a panel discussion Tuesday morning at the Explorer Hotel.

Berger, well-known former commissioner of the Mackenzie Valley pipeline inquiry, was in Yellowknife for a symposium entitled The True North Strong and Free: A New Vision in the National Interest.

Berger addressed participants, along with former premier and leader of the Gwich'in Tribal Council Richard Nerysoo, former NWT commissioner John Parker, former pipeline proponent, Foothills Pipeline, Robert Blair and Fort Good Hope Chief Frank T'Seleie.

The morning was spent looking back over what happened in and around the Berger Inquiry 25 years ago, and the realities of land claims, self-government and a Mackenzie Valley pipeline.

"We (the Dene) say the government of the Northwest Territories isn't our government, the government of Canada isn't our government," said Premier Stephen Kakfwi, who spoke before the panel convened.

"We need to get beyond that, not just whine and snivel in our own backyards," he said. "The concern is starting to be how is it going to work ... It's going to work because it's necessary."

When Berger spoke he reminisced about his inquiry: how the Indian Affairs Minister Jean Chretien in 1974 approached him about the inquiry; how Berger expected the hearings would take two months; and how he ended up hearing from about 300 experts and 900 community members over 21 months.

Berger's first recommendation after the hearings -- that a pipeline from Prudhoe Bay through Alaska, the Yukon and NWT not be allowed -- was followed. This pipeline would cross the northern Yukon and destroy the calving grounds of the porcupine caribou herd.

The second recommendation was a 10-year moratorium on any pipeline, because Berger thought it was important to first settle land claims.

"Land claims will define relationships between aboriginals and non-aboriginals for decades, centuries to come," said Berger.

Time to look ahead

While Tuesday's discussions looked at the past, Wedesday turned forward toward the future.

The morning was devoted to government; the afternoon to youth.

Deputy Premier Jim Antoine began the government panel discussion by saying the most important issue to consider over the next few years is how public and aboriginal governments will work together and the changes that may take place over the coming years.

"Aboriginal government will deliver some programs to the people that the territorial government is doing now," said Antoine.

Aboriginal governments will have greater authority, he theorized.

"The current government is not responding to the will and aspirations of the people of the NWT," he said.

Richard Lafferty Jr. also had a turn at the microphone.

"There are three governments in the NWT and there always have been," he said. "Metis, Dene and non-aboriginal."

Lafferty believes governance is an ongoing process, one that "needs to be nurtured and developed."

He stressed the importance of realizing that non-renewable resources cannot sustain the North forever.

"There's 50 to 80 years of resources for gas ... (it's) not a sustainable revenue stream.

"Land claims are not the answer to anything," he said.

In the end, he said, it all comes down to mutual respect.

Constitutional expert Bernie Funston said the issues that affect the future of the North are a "real challenge."

"We have to look at the issues for the North and look at the human capacity we have to deal with these issues," he said.

"Co-operation is necessary."

Funston concluded by recommending that the NWT not spend too much time focusing on constitutions and making new ones, but rather look more at the human elements.

"Have healthy babies and raise them well," he said.

Youth are the future

The afternoon's speakers included John Ralston Saul and Western Arctic Liberal MP Ethel Blondin-Andrew.

Blondin-Andrew spoke of youth and their importance to the future of the territory.

"We need our young people to have a strong sense of identity," said Blondin-Andrew. "We know there's a pressing need to develop the skills of our people."

More than half of the aboriginal youth are under 25, said Blondin-Andrew, and the number of aboriginal students went from 14,000 in 1988 to 28,000 in 1999.

By 2004, 70 per cent of all new jobs will require a form of post-secondary education, she said.

Blondin-Andrew went on to talk about the North's diamond industry and the need to build expertise in the North. She gave the example of niche banking for the diamond industry, instead of using regular banks.

The minister of state and youth concluded by saying that jobs need to be kept in the North and people need to be trained.

The symposium wrapped up Wednesday night with a fashion show and cultural gala, including a drum dance.