Fort Simpson (Jan 14/05) - The bulk of $14.5 million worth of contracts associated with Imperial Oil's proposed winter work in the Deh Cho have been conditionally awarded to First Nations and their joint-venture partners.

That's a promising sign, but Liidlii Kue First Nation Chief Keyna Norwegian said Tuesday that until impact benefits agreements have been negotiated with industry, she'd still like to see the project postponed.

Last year, Norwegian was dismayed when the general services contracts, the most lucrative deals, were set to go to a couple of Hay River businesses. This year, those contracts have been tentatively awarded to Kaa Dule United Corporation -- owned by First Nations in the Deh Cho -- in partnership with Rowe's Construction.

Best value

Imperial Oil selects bidders on the basis of "best overall total value," according to Hart Searle, spokesperson for Imperial Oil in Calgary. Value is defined as a competitive price, the contractor's ability to include aboriginal and Northern businesses and employment, safety, quality, technical expertise and personnel, he stated.

"I think the Northern businesses, joint-ventures and certainly the aboriginal business interests are very well represented," said Searle.

However, Norwegian said it's essential that Imperial Oil recognize the Deh Cho Dene as land owners. She said the federal government must force industry to compensate aboriginal people through impact benefits agreements.

"The longer this winter work is delayed, the better it is for us," she said.

The millions of dollars in contracts are enticing -- so the First Nations placed bids as a safeguard in case the work went ahead against their wishes or if acceptable terms were negotiated in time -- but Norwegian said she has to look at the bigger picture.

"If this is like beads and trinkets that's being offered, then no thank you, we want more than that," she said.

She was in Edmonton last week to meet with federal officials regarding the Dehcho First Nations' court challenge against the proposed Mackenzie Valley pipeline review panel. She said things are looking positive.

"It's just a matter of time before we get what it is that we're looking for," Norwegian predicted.

The Mackenzie Valley Environmental Impact Review Board still has not granted permits for Imperial's geo-technical work, which will primarily consist of boring holes for soil sampling.

Four crew camps totalling 225 workers would be established in the Deh Cho.

Alan Ehrlich, the environmental assessment officer overseeing the file, said the board was meeting with the Minister of Indian Affairs and Northern Development in Ottawa this week and the geo-technical permits were on the agenda.

"So you should expect to see something, I think, fairly soon," Ehrlich said.

Searle said barring any "unacceptable conditions" imposed by the regulatory board, Imperial should be in "pretty good shape" to begin carrying out the winter work should the permits be in hand within the next few weeks. The project is expected to take 30-40 days to complete, he noted. "We'd certainly very much like to do it though, no question," he said, acknowledging that Imperial has unsuccessfully attempted to undertake the geo-technical program over the past few years.

Conditional contractors:

Camps

• Deh Cho North - Pehdzeh Ki First Nation (Wrigley) and Travers
• Deh Cho South - Kakisa in partnership with Jean Marie River and Travers

Catering

• Deh Cho North - PKFN (Wrigley) and Travers
• Deh Cho South - Kaa Dule and PTI

Drilling

• Kaa Dule and Midnight Sun Drilling

Emergency Medical Technician

• Kaa Dule and Medic North

General Services