.
Search
 Email this articleE-mail this story  Discuss this articleWrite letter to editor  Discuss this articleOrder a classified ad  Print this page

A boost for development

Derek Neary
Northern News Services

Fort Simpson (July 25/05) - A few Deh Cho communities have the grand chief's conditional blessing to embark on oil and gas projects spurred by a recent flood of federal money.

Now that the withdrawal of pipeline litigation has resulted in a $31.5 million settlement with the federal government, Dehcho First Nations is a step closer to embracing "controlled" development.

"It won't be wide-scale like it's been before. It would be controlled and pretty focused in very specific areas," grand chief Herb Norwegian said.

A few critical points still remain to be negotiated with the federal government before any seismic exploration begins, said Chris Reid, legal counsel for the Dehcho First Nations. The Deh Cho has been lobbying for a cash-bonus system, where the highest bidder to explore a parcel of land would give the Deh Cho a lump-sum payment.

The Ka'a'gee Tu First Nation has been in contact with DIAND officials in Ottawa to use its proposed oil and gas program as a pilot project in the Deh Cho, according to Julian Landry, oil and gas advisor in Kakisa.

The venture, to take place on Ka'a'gee Tu traditional lands, would encompass environmental assessment, helicopter-based seismic work and create up to 20 jobs, Landry said.

More employment and opportunities will ensue if there's any production of oil and gas.

"If this goes ahead, we can really make some headway in defining the protocol or terms and conditions of how oil and gas is developed in the Deh Cho," he said.

In Fort Liard, the four candidates for chief all promised to open new parcels of land for oil and gas exploration and development.

However, Norwegian noted that Fort Liard's boundary issues with Trout Lake and Nahanni Butte must be resolved to everyone's satisfaction before more development proceeds.