Fort Liard (Apr 11/03) - Who has final say over what happens on Fort Liard traditional lands?

The Acho Dene Koe First Nation fears that the Interim Resource Development Agreement will transfer that control to the Deh Cho First Nations (DCFN), the entity representing all aboriginal political bodies in the region.

Therefore Acho Dene Koe (ADK) band council is withholding its support for the interim resource agreement. The document is to be signed by the DCFN, the federal government and the territorial government in Fort Providence on April 17.

"It's like Deh Cho is coming and taking our land away and being the boss for our land. A lot of the membership here are against that," Bertrand explained. "We're not going to be consulting with Deh Cho First Nations to work on our own land here. We're the ones who have lived here for a lot of generations -- over 9,000 years. Why should someone else come and take over and tell us what to do on our own land?"

The interim resource agreement, combined with interim land withdrawals, defines initial terms and conditions for industrial development within the Deh Cho region. Fort Liard is the only community in the Deh Cho where full-scale oil and gas activity has taken place over the past decade, prior to the evolution of these interim deals.

Nadli responds

Michael Nadli, grand chief of the Deh Cho First Nations, said the ADK's fears are unfounded. He noted that former ADK Chief Judy Kotchea, at a leadership assembly on May 16, 2001, won support for a hard-fought resolution that granted ADK "ultimate control" over its traditional lands.

However, that resolution also states that the ADK won't share any of its resource revenues with the rest of the region. Nadli said his understanding is that the ADK, in turn, won't benefit from royalties granted through the interim resource agreement.

Federal negotiator Robin Aitken, on the other hand, said the terms specified in the interim resource agreement would apply to the ADK.

If the Fort Liard band refuses to abide by the interim resource agreement, then the federal government will "consider that," said Aitken.

ADK band council has sent a letter to Robert Nault, Minister of Indian Affairs and Northern Development, seeking reassurance that the DCFN won't gain control over Fort Liard's lands. Bertrand wouldn't comment on the possibility that the ADK will withdraw from the Deh Cho Process.

"I can't say that. The (band) membership has to speak," he said.

Bertrand added that it's unlikely any delegates from the Fort Liard band will be present for the interim resource agreement signing ceremony.

"It looks like probably nobody from ADK will show up, but you never know," he said.