Fort Simpson (June 23/03) - In the Deh Cho, still at an early stage in self-government negotiations, word of a pipeline funding agreement was greeted with caution.

"It's a bad deal, plain and simple," said Michael Nadli, Deh Cho First Nations grand chief. He said the $80 million commitment does not secure one-third aboriginal ownership.

"What it does is put First Nations in the Mackenzie Valley in debt. We're $80 million in the hole already. That's not acceptable."

First Nations in the Deh Cho still haven't given consent for the pipeline to cross their territory, which accounts for approximately 40 per cent of the route. Nadli said the pipeline won't be welcome until a settlement is reached with industry and government.

"So often we're cast as the bad guy standing in the way of progress," the grand chief acknowledged. "We see ourselves as the last remaining fundamental First Nations group in the American continent where we haven't given up our rights and relationship with the land."

Pipeline timeline

March 1975 -- Berger Inquiry begins.

"Ladies and gentlemen, we are embarked on a consideration of a great river valley and its people. This inquiry is a study whose magnitude is without precedent in this country. I have been guided by the conviction that this inquiry must be fair and it must be complete. We have to do it right." -- Justice Thomas R. Berger

May 9, 1977 - Berger's report is released.

"I listened to a brief by Northern businessmen in Yellowknife who favour a pipeline through the North. Later, in a native village far away, I heard virtually the whole community express vehement opposition to such a pipeline. Both were talking about the same pipeline; both were talking about the same region - but for one group it is a frontier, for the other a homeland." - Justice Thomas R. Berger Northern Frontier, Northern Homeland

January 2000 - In Fort Liard, a commitment is made between aboriginal leaders to pursue a deal for a Mackenzie Valley pipeline.

"We've got to believe that we have to own the pipeline for our children tomorrow. We've got to create jobs for many young people in the communities." - Fort Liard Chief Harry Deneron

June 2000 -- Memorandum of Understanding signed by 26 aboriginal leaders in Fort Simpson to maximize ownership and benefits of a Mackenzie Valley Pipeline.

"In 25 years, all of us have worked so hard to develop our communities, our companies and our organizations and the results are here... It's time to do business and everything is falling into place." -- NWT Premier Stephen Kakfwi.

June 2001 -- Producers and aboriginals meet in Hay River to sign a pipeline deal. The Deh Cho First Nation refuses to sign.

"Be it resolved that terms and conditions of any pipeline crossing Deh Cho territory must be set out in an agreement between Canada and the Deh Cho First Nations. Until such an agreement is reached, the Deh Cho will not support any pipeline through their territory." -- Resolution read into the record by Deh Cho First Nations Grand Chief Michael Nadli.

"The day I have to report business back to tribal council, I'm gone; it's very difficult to mix business with politics -- we're going backwards." -- APG Chair Harry Deneron said and resigned from APG.

June 2003 - APG signs a deal that will see their one-third share of a pipeline backstop financed by the producer group.