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Firth to head rival pipeline

More defections expected

Jorge Barrera
Northern News Services

Yellowknife (June 24/02) - Other defections are expected after a Gwich'in chief switched sides in the pipeline wars and chose to lead one of two competing groups trying to spearhead a pipeline project down the heart of the Mackenzie Valley.

"We have indications of things, of people coming on board (in aboriginal leadership positions)," said Harvie Andre, head of ArctiGas, the Canadian arm of Texas-based Arctic Resources Corporation (ARC).

ArctiGas/ARC is battling the Aboriginal Pipeline Group for support of aboriginal leaders to develop a pipeline.

The comments came after a press conference in the lobby of the Explorer Hotel in Yellowknife on Wednesday.

Andre announced the appointment of Inuvik Gwich'in band Chief James Firth as president of the Northern Route Gas Pipeline Corporation (NRGPC)-- the corporation created to develop the ArctiGas/ARC pipeline proposal.

Firth said his decision to head the NRGPC came after extensive consultations with his community.

Firth had originally signed on to the APG, which is pushing for a one-third aboriginal ownership proposal for construction of the pipeline.

"People have been misled," said Firth about the one-third aboriginal proposal which relies on major oil and gas producers to back up the other two-thirds of the project. "We don't need producer support."

Firth said the ArctiGas/ ARC proposal is a better bet for aboriginals in the North.

ArctiGas/ARC is offering 100 per cent aboriginal ownership and an over-the-top route connecting U.S. gas in Prudhoe Bay to Canadian gas in the Mackenzie Valley.

The APG's proposal taps into Mackenzie Valley gas only.

In October of last year, four of five regions signed on with the APG--the Deh Cho region the lone hold out.

Firth has a long way to go before his group catches up to the APG in terms of support--he still has to convince his own nation which seems strong on APG -- but that doesn't dampen his resolve.

"It's really not what we want," said Firth. "Other leaders have looked at our proposal, they'll see the advantage."