Fort Simpson (Oct 29/04) - Grand Chief Herb Norwegian has said that the Dehcho First Nations (DFN) would consider dropping its lawsuits against the federal government, providing it can be a signatory to the Mackenzie Valley pipeline Joint Review Panel.

Since the panel's conception, the Deh Cho have lobbied to appoint two members.

However, because they do not have a settled land claim, a member was appointed on behalf of the DFN.

It was primarily this issue that instigated the two lawsuits filed by the Deh Cho against the federal government: one in territorial court and another in federal court.

Norwegian now says that movement on the federal government's part in regard to the land claim -- rather than an outright settlement -- and allowing the Deh Cho to appoint one member on the panel would be satisfactory and the DFN would drop the lawsuits.

Previously, Norwegian had taken the two-members or nothing stance, as well as demanding that the Deh Cho land claim be finalized before he would entertain any pipeline development talks.

Earlier this month, Deh Cho leaders were confronted for their litigious behaviour by their counterparts from the Inuvialuit, Gwich'in and Sahtu.