Kakisa (July 09/04) - Calling it too critical to rush, Deh Cho aboriginal leaders deferred the adoption of a draft constitution at last week's assembly.

That was the outcome despite a request from chief negotiator Georges Erasmus to support the document. He wanted to use it as a basis for bargaining with the federal government on an agreement-in-principal. He noted that the negotiating team already visited each Deh Cho community to get feedback on the matter.

Erasmus said the core issues -- merging community governments, guaranteeing Dene participation and avoiding land selection -- have developed "clarity" over the years. He assured the delegates that the details of the draft constitution, entitled Towards a Deh Cho government, could be amended in the future.

More time wanted

Keyna Norwegian, chief of the Liidlii Kue First Nation, said she feared the Deh Cho would be held to the existing document.

"I believe once you put something on the table with the federal government it's almost your bottom line," she said. "We want to take a bit more time."

Marie Lafferty concurred, referring to the constitution as the backbone of a future Deh Cho government. "This is something you've got to live with for the rest of your years," said Lafferty, president of the Fort Simpson Metis Nation.

Ethel Lamothe, a Liidlii Kue delegate, said the draft constitution should be moulded by the membership, not subject to negotiators' interpretation. She said she visits Deh Cho communities regularly and "at least half of the people aren't even aware of what it is we're working on."

It was agreed that the document would be revisited at the fall leadership assembly.