Wrigley (Feb 28/03) - Deh Cho aboriginal leaders have agreed to a provisional framework for development with the federal government.

Now they must figure out how to divide the spoils among themselves. Lloyd Chicot, chief of the Ka'a'gee Tu First Nation in Kakisa, said it's important for the Deh Cho leaders to clearly define "affected communities" and "consultation" in relation to resource development.

The meaning of those two terms will be fundamental in negotiating impact benefits agreements, he contended. Affected communities are those whose traditional lands are the site of development but communities that are down-river from an industrial project could also be affected.

"We need to define how as chiefs we're going to work together in terms of resource development on traditional lands," Chicot said.

He noted that one of the students in his community essentially asked him that very question. The student pointed out that the Dene have traditionally shared resources above ground, such as hunting wildlife. The rules, however, for what lies beneath the surface are only now being considered.

"It's something that's foreign, something that we've never done before," Chicot said.

Grand Chief Michael Nadli said the Interim Resource Development Agreement (IRDA) with Canada, endorsed by the DCFN at last week's assembly in Wrigley, is expected to fetch the Deh Cho $1-3 million per year in royalties from the Mackenzie Valley. That's based on only a small fraction of royalties, but the terms should be "more generous" for a final agreement, Nadli said.

The grand chief added that he's sure the 10 communities forming the region will remain intact as final terms for resource development are ironed out over the next year.

"From what I heard in Wrigley, there's a resounding sense of unity," he said. "There's a strong sense from all of the chiefs and the elders that we're all in this together."

Here's a summary of some of the other resolutions passed last week:

-The Deh Cho Economic Corporation is to restrict its activities to investigation, discussion papers and preliminary reviews until the DCFN has concluded terms and conditions for a proposed Mackenzie Valley pipeline and proposed petroleum development.

-An oil and gas working group, which will be accountable to DCFN leadership, will be established to negotiate terms and conditions for new oil and gas exploration licences.

-The Deh Cho pipeline working group will focus first on negotiating tentative land access fees with all companies interested in building a Mackenzie Valley pipeline.

-The grand chief is directed to sign agreements for an interim Nahanni National Park Reserve management arrangement, a management plan, an ecological integrity statement and a memorandum of understanding. A signing ceremony with federal government is to be arranged. The grand chief is also to continue working towards protection of the entire South Nahanni watershed.

-A study on all elementary school programs will be carried out by the DCFN. There is concern about so many Dene children being on modified programs and education programs in the Deh Cho being below standard in comparison to Alberta and some other NWT schools.