 | E-mail this story |  | Write letter to editor |  | Order a classified ad |
| E-mail this story | | Write letter to editor | | Order a classified ad |
 From left, Chiefs Darrel Beaulieu, Bill Erasmus and Peter Liske gathered Tuesday to announce that the Assembly of First Nations Annual General Assembly will be held in Yellowknife next year. It's the first time the gathering is being held in the NWT. - Alex Glancy/NNSL photo |
Bill Erasmus, First Nations Regional Chief, estimated that the assembly could inject $5million to $10 million into the city's economy and "there won't be fewer than 2,000 people" visiting Yellowknife.
The event is scheduled for July 4-8 and is the annual meeting for the assembly's 630 voting delegates.
A number of events and activities will be featured at the assembly, explained Chief Darrel Beaulieu.
Drum dances and hand games are planned and the Denendeh Development Corporation will host the trade show that accompanies the assembly.
Preparations are already underway, said Erasmus.
All hotels and bed and breakfasts in the city will be booked and organizers are talking to First Air about chartering flights from Ottawa.
Suggestions have been coming in for possible activities.
"Like all other societies, we have experts in everything," joked Erasmus.
Suggested activities include a golf tournament and hockey camp hosted by aboriginal NHL players Jordin Tootoo and Jonathan Cheechoo. Since the Assembly of First Nations has never held an annual general assembly in the NWT, Chief Peter Liske said next year's meeting will give chiefs a chance to raise Northern issues.
"(Northern) voices are really not heard in southern assemblies," said Liske.
He said oil and gas and the diamond industry will be hot topics.
Erasmus said that because so many aboriginal issues in the south are based around the reserve system and the Indian Act, Northerners have valuable insights to offer.
"The Indian Act doesn't apply in a lot of instances (in the North)," said Erasmus.
With each of the regions negotiating for self-governance, "we've done some things that may be more difficult in the south."
Fundamentally, "we really want to have the red carpet out and show some Northern hospitality," said Erasmus.
Some visitors are already worried they won't be able to sleep through the long days of a Yellowknife summer, Erasmus joked.
