Yellowknife (May 02/03) - Picture a table. In the middle, like a lovely centrepiece, sits the Northwest Territories.

Around it, looking in at it and sizing it up, are three distinct parties: the federal government; the GNWT; and aboriginal self governments.

Each party currently plays a role in how that centrepiece operates.

But those roles are going to change. This is what devolution talks are about.

The NWT may still be a territory. But as the GNWT and self-governments tug harder and harder, and the federal government lets the territory run itself, the territory comes closer to looking and acting more like a province.

And it's only a matter of time, said Dr. Hal Gerein, chief negotiator for the GNWT.

"This is not easy, this is extraordinarily difficult. This is constitution- making, almost," said David Peterson, representing the federal government, in a meeting on Monday.

But, Peterson added, "The time is right."

Peterson, along with Bob Simpson from the aboriginal summit, and Gerein, representing the GNWT, discussed devolution in Yellowknife on Monday, and said they are close to a framework agreement.

"There's a lot at stake, but we're trying to be more cautious," said Simpson.

"There are a lot of tough issues to deal with in the next few days," said Simpson.

The negotiators said that a transfer agreement between all three parties can be expected in the next two to three years.

A framework outlining what kind of powers the NWT will take out of the hands of the federal government will be ready in the next few months, said Simpson.

"Northerners will make decisions over land and resources," he added. "Hopefully in the long term we'll decrease our dependence [on Ottawa] and have more flexibility."