Paul Bickford
Northern News Services

Fort Smith (June 24/02) - The divide between First Nations and Metis in the South Slave has gotten a little wider.

On Saturday, the South Slave Metis Tribal Council (SSMTC) signed an interim measures agreement with the federal government in Fort Smith.

However, that was over the objections of the Akaitcho Territory government, which passed a motion at an assembly in Fort Smith last week opposing the agreement.

The Akaitcho assembly wrote Indian Affairs and Northern Development Minister Robert Nault, who signed the agreement with SSMTC president Rob Tordiff asking him not to do so.

The motion, agreed to after a lengthy in-camera session by Akaitcho delegates, states that Akaitcho lands cannot be "alienated or otherwise encumbered" without their informed consent.

It called the agreement with the Metis a "gross violation" of treaty rights and an act of bad faith at the Akaitcho negotiations table.

The motion was passed on Wednesday, and the next day South Slave Metis chief negotiator George Kurszewski sent a letter to the Akaitcho assembly requesting time on the agenda to explain the interim measures agreement.

"There is no prejudice to the Akaitcho or to anyone else in the interim measures agreement," Kurszewski says.

However, his request was quickly rebuffed.

"If the assembly agrees to meet with him, we will be leaving," said Ken Laviolette of the Salt River First Nation delegation.

Several chiefs stated they felt the matter had already been dealt with by their motion to send a letter to Nault.

"I don't know what good it will do," said Deninu Ku'e Chief Robert Sayine of meeting with Kurszewski. "I don't want to sit here arguing about it."

Kurszewski's letter was filed.

The interim measures agreement will establish a mechanism by which the Metis will be consulted over development in the land they claim as traditional territory while their negotiations proceed.