Fort Simpson (Nov 05/04) - Some communities have been left out of the Dehcho First Nation's pipeline working group and they served notice last week that they're not going to stand for it any longer.

The working group was formed to help communities prepare for the Mackenzie Valley pipeline. The body has secured approximately $700,000 in funding for this fiscal year.

Richard Lafferty, representing the Fort Providence Metis, speaks of how some Deh Cho communities are being "left in the dark" in terms of pipeline working group activities. In the background is Liidlii Kue First Nation elder Leo Norwegian. - Derek Neary/NNSL photo

Roy Fabian, chief of the Hay River Reserve, said his community will feel the impacts of the pipeline just like the working group members -- Fort Simpson, Trout Lake, Wrigley, Jean Marie River and Kakisa.

He said the Hay River Reserve is being marginalized.

"There comes a time when a person has to speak up and say, 'No more,'" Fabian told his peers around the leadership table in Fort Simpson last week. "For me, I'm just not going to allow it."

Richard Lafferty, of the Fort Providence Metis, noted a government study has shown that his community and the reserve will indeed be subject to increased traffic from the transportation of pipeline equipment. As well, he said, elected leaders in Fort Providence are unaware of opportunities associated with a proposed winter geo-technical program. He described the situation as "incredibly unfair."

"Clearly the pipeline working group is not looking out for the interests of the other communities," said Lafferty.

Keyna Norwegian, chair of the working group, replied that funding had been grossly inadequate and although it has increased, it's still insufficient for the five core communities. She added that requests from other communities would be addressed as effectively as possible.

The Liidlii Kue First Nation had a resolution on the table to take over the pipeline working group's operations and funding. Norwegian explained that the intention was to give community members more control and separate the working group from political interference.

Other leaders criticized the resolution and failed to vote on it.

A pipeline strategy conference -- date and location to be determined -- will be held to resolve the contentious issue.

Norwegian told her counterparts that she would prefer a closed forum because she dreads "airing our dirty laundry" in public.

Industry officials like to hear of friction among Deh Cho communities, she said.

Resolutions passed at last week's DFN leadership meeting:

* DFN supports Pehdzeh Ki First Nation's efforts in re-establishing a community nurse position in Wrigley.

* DFN will issue a letter to the Aboriginal Healing Foundation in support of the Fort Providence Residential School Society's request for funding.

* Pehdzeh Ki First Nations has leadership support to proceed with tourism lodges at Blackwater Lake and Fish Lake.

* DFN staff will develop a membership list for each First Nation and Metis Local to begin defining the term "beneficiary" as per the Dehcho Process.

* All future Dehcho First Nations discussion and documents will use the term "Dene descendants" in place of Dene and Metis.

* DFN will examine ways to form a Dehcho Wildlife Management Board to deal with wildlife management issues.

* DFN supports West Point First Nation in lobbying the Department of Resources, Wildlife and Economic Development to resume funding for a traditional economy program.

* DFN will explore ways in which knowledge gathered by the Dene Cultural Institute can be incorporated into the region's education system.