Jorge Barrera
Northern News Services

Yellowknife (July 01/02) - With flags bearing the Dogrib insignia and hand-held signs of congratulation, around 30 people gathered at the Yellowknife Airport Friday to welcome Dogrib negotiators home from their final land-claim negotiating session.

"It's a great relief for everyone but the work has just begun," said Ted Blondin, Dogrib Nation Treaty 11 negotiator.

Aug. 6 is the date negotiators for the federal, territorial and Dogrib governments will formally sign the hybrid land-claim, self-government agreement in Wha Ti, marking the end of 10 years of negotiations.

The agreement gives the Dogrib $90 million and 39,000 square kilometres of sub-surface and surface rights -- an area seven times larger than Prince Edward Island.

If a mine develops on this area the Dogrib get the royalties.

Blondin said the self-government part of the agreement gives the Dogrib one governing body and the power to tax but still maintains community chief and councils.

The negotiations cost over $20 million and Blondin said they will have to borrow to pay off some debts.

Dogrib negotiators faced five different territorial negotiators and two federal negotiators in the last 10 years.

Dogrib Grand Chief Joe Rabesca said the bordering Akaitcho Nation Treaty 8 will not like the news of the finalized Dogrib agreement.

"But it's not for them, it's for the Dogrib people," said Rabesca.

The Akaitcho have been fighting for a boundary between the two nations for a decade because the Dogrib settlement area covers a good chunk of land claimed by Akaitcho, including their communities of Ndilo and Dettah.

In a June 24 press conference in Yellowknife, Robert Nault, Minister of Indian Affairs, urged the two sides to settle the dispute and offered a federal mediator.

The Akaitcho launched a federal court action against Nault for not personally intervening in the dispute.

Nault said it's not up to federal ministers to settle disputes between First Nations people.

Rabesca said the Dogrib will give talks with the Akaitcho one final go.

The Dogrib people will get to vote on the final agreement around Christmas.

The federal and territorial governments also need to approve the final agreement, a process that could take several months or even years.