Fort Simpson (May 21/04) - A culturally valued land mass between the Mackenzie River and Great Slave Lake still has an undetermined future.

Edehzhie -- a 25,000 square kilometre tract of land that includes the Horn Plateau, the Horn River, Mills Lake, Mink Lake and Willow Lake -- is nearing the midway point of its five-year interim protected status.

During a slide show presentation in Fort Simpson, geologist James Lariviere explained mineral sampling projects that have been taking place in the Edehzhie area over the past year. - Derek Neary/NNSL photo

Miki Promislow, co-ordinator of protected areas implementation, has been touring communities with the Edehzhie Working Group to update the public on activities associated with the area.

"Every year there's more fieldwork done and there's more information gathered on Edehzhie," Promislow said of the resource and ecological assessments and cultural studies.

The protected area strategy for Edehzhie is now in the fifth of eight steps, but there's no guarantee it will ever be completed unless the public will exists and the Department of Indian Affairs and Northern Development (DIAND) agrees to the boundaries and management plan.

"At any point in the process until the time the land is permanently withdrawn (from development), it can be dropped," she explained.

A small block of mineral claims does exist within Edehzhie. The proponent recently submitted an application for a land-use permit to begin an exploration program. It's currently under review by the Mackenzie Valley Land and Water Board.

Potential there

James Lariviere, a geologist with DIAND, noted that areas within Edehzhie have been rated as having moderate to high potential for diamonds and moderate potential for oil and gas.

While mineral potential is unproven, Joachim Bonnetrouge, a traditional land user and former chief in Fort Providence, explained that the land's cultural value among aboriginal people is undeniable. There are numerous burial sites and historic writing and painting on rocks in certain areas of Edehzhie, according to Bonnetrouge.

"There are very significant spiritual areas, especially right around the Horn Plateau," he said. "Grandpa used to say that the whole mountain (near Willow Lake) comprises Dene people's bones."

As well, there are lakes where fish are plentiful. Those lakes are said to have helped sustain aboriginal people during lean times.

Bonnetrouge and many other Fort Providence residents still make forays into Edehzhie, as do people from neighbouring communities.

"Some of our full-time trappers are still in that area," said Bonnetrouge, who added that protecting the area from development would be "more than a good idea."

Yet, he said some people are in favour of a clause allowing future generations to open parcels of land within Edehzhie to development.