Yellowknife (Feb 24/03) - Trying to coax respect and money out of the federal government has always been a humbling chore for NWT premiers.

It was no less of a problem for Senator Nick Sibbeston when he held the job between 1986 and 1988.

It was a constant struggle trying to get power out of the hands of the federal government back when Senator Nick Sibbeston was NWT government leader. - NNSL file photo

Back then, the NWT premier was called the "government leader."

Sibbeston was the first to toy with the idea of being called "premier," but it wasn't until Nellie Cournoyea took over the job in 1991 did the title stick.

Going to Ottawa during Sibbeston's time was like venturing into a royal court full of high-minded sycophants while the premier/government leader played the role of village headman from a far-flung county on the empire's frontier.

"I was always intimidated by Ottawa," says Sibbeston.

"It was a long way from where I'm from, Fort Simpson. I never felt I approached Ottawa from a very strong stance."

"At the time we were not invited to First Ministers' meetings, we were always on the outside."

Up until the mid-1980s, the NWT commissioner (appointed by the prime minister) called most of the shots.

"During my time I gently pushed the commissioner out of his seat as the chairman of the executive council," says Sibbeston. "I took over the last department he held (personnel).

"So we were still in the latter stages of taking control of government in the North.

"We were still seen as colonial and kind of a branch of the federal government."

He says since then, however, politics in the North have evolved and it's becoming increasingly difficult for the federal government to ignore Northern leaders.

He applauds Premier Stephen Kakfwi for standing up to Prime Minister Jean Chretien over the health care accord. He says it's a precedent future Northern premiers can build on.

"Ten to 20 years ago the economy of the North wasn't as developed as it is now. We were always dependent on Ottawa for money but now there's a tremendous amount of royalties and tax revenue that's occurring in the North.

"That being the case, I think the North can stand much more prouder, much more stronger in terms of insisting on being treated like premiers in the South. The North is not to be ignored any more."