Inuvik (Apr 11/03) - The negotiators for the self-government team met with town council Monday night to announce that they are ready to sign an agreement in principle (AIP).

Tracy Campbell, chief negotiator for the GNWT, Vince Teddy, chief negotiator for the Inuvialuit Regional Corporation, and Lawrence Norbert, chief negotiator for the Gwich'in Tribal Council told Inuvik town council all parties have agreed to initial the historic document that will pave the way to the final agreement.

The AIP was scheduled to be signed last June 21, but three Gwich'in chiefs refused, stating they were not in agreement with Chapter 21 of the agreement.

With some trepidation, Campbell said Robert Nault, minister of Indian and Northern Affairs, would be coming to Inuvik to sign the AIP next Wednesday.

"Fingers crossed," Campbell said, half-jokingly. "There does seem to be momentum; the Gwich'in chiefs have signed BCRs (Band Council Resolutions) in support of the related subject matters."

"It will probably go ahead on Wednesday," she said.

Last June, Nault and Western Arctic Liberal MP Ethel Blondin-Andrew were en route to Inuvik, when the Gwich'in chiefs pulled out of the deal.

Chief Peter Ross of Tsiigehtchic, James Firth of Inuvik and Charlie Furlong of Aklavik wanted clarification and consultation on a clause that calls for the dissolution of the present chief and council system.

Chapter 27.1.3 states: "The Parties agree that the Gwich'in Bands should cease to exist."

Inuvik Native Band Chief James Firth said they all agreed to the self-government process, but the band should have the right to say how they will govern themselves.

"As far as I'm concerned (Chapter 27) should be taken right out of it," Firth said.

Aklavik Indian Band Chief Charlie Furlong said the chapter had been a sticking point since the negotiations began and apologized for his reaction at the eleventh hour.

The negotiating team has since ironed out the resolution and will proceed.

Campbell said the agenda for the signing will begin with an intergovernmental forum in the morning, meetings until 4 p.m. and a ceremony and feast to follow.

At the table

At the negotiations table, the group has been working on the portfolios, community workshops and discussion how the final agreement will be implemented. Vince Teddy said they have established how each community will help form the regional constitution through input from each municipal council, aboriginal groups and members at large.

"We hope to have constitutions from all the various governments that are in the AIP," Teddy said.

They are seeking input from the community governments as to what training requirements are needed and capacity development.

The group is asking communities for input on how they want 10-year implementation of the agreement to take effect.

"They will give us their goals and their aspirations; what their priorities are and when they want to take them on, within that 10-year period," he said.

Teddy encouraged Inuvik's council to take part in up-coming workshops.

Campbell said the self government team is currently negotiating social housing, economic development, human rights, roads and traffic.

"Figuring out how the government is going to look like, and how much money is necessary to run the governments is probably the most important thing we'll do between now and the final agreement," she said.