Hay River Reserve (Apr 04/05) - The Chief Lamalise Complex on the Hay River Reserve looked like an art gallery last week.

But the walls were lined with maps, not paintings, for a regional forum of the Deh Cho Land Use Planning Committee.

The forum attracted a dozen aboriginal organizations from 10 communities in the Deh Cho, along with some government representatives, businesses and conservation groups.

The planning - part of the Deh Cho Process - will decide the protection required in various areas of the Deh Cho, and the kinds and levels of development to be permitted.

"This is an important step for the Deh Cho," said Grand Chief Herb Norwegian of the Dehcho First Nations.

It was the first time the committee's complete efforts - still in draft form - have been shown to all interested parties gathered in one room since consultations began in late 2002.

Revisions will be made based on input at the forum and a final plan is to be prepared by early next year.

"Everyone was really positive," said Heidi Wiebe, the executive director of the Deh Cho Land Use Planning Committee.

"The most important message we got from communities was to protect the water," Wiebe said.

Chief Lloyd Chicot of Kakisa praised the planning. "It's a really good thing that we're doing here."

The draft plan divides the Deh Cho - aside from municipalities and the Nahanni National Park Reserve - into 30 different zones. They fall into three categories: conservation zones, special management zones and general use zones.

There is a special zone for the Mackenzie Valley pipeline that "floats over" the other zones.

Chief Roy Fabian of K'atlodeeche First Nation on the Hay River Reserve expressed concern that the various zones might "cut up the land."

Fabian said drawing lines around communities might create tensions, maybe not today, but 100 years from now. "We need to think way ahead."

The chief is particularly concerned about a suggestion in the plan that Dene exercising rights outside their own traditional lands would be encouraged to notify local leadership.