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Assembly boosts Deline economy

Andrea Markey
Northern News Services

Fort Franklin (Aug 15/05) - The population of Deline is expected to almost double this week for the 35th Dene National Assembly.

As many as 250 delegates, staff, translators and their families from the five regions will boat and fly into the community for the three-day gathering.



North-Wright's Capt. Warren Ruiter - who usually operates the scheduled flights between Yellowknife and Deline - will be extra busy during the Assembly as a total of four additional flights have been added by the airline. The company is partially owned by the residents of Deline.


Many people from the Sahtu will already be in the area following the spiritual gathering that finished today.

The economic spin-off from such an event is huge, said Chris Paci, acting chief executive officer of the Dene Nation.

Last year's Assembly in Yellowknife had an operational budget of $90,000 and that didn't include travel costs.

Translation into the five languages costs in the "10s-of-thousands," including sound equipment, he said.

The annual assembly generates anywhere between $200,000-$300,000 for the local economy, depending on the region.

North Wright Airways flies into Deline five times each week. This week it is adding two extra flights into the community, and two flights out for the Assembly, said David James, operations manager for North Wright.

The communities of Fort Good Hope, Tulita and Deline, along with Aklavik, all have partnerships with the company, therefore directly benefit from the extra travellers.

Meeting in different communities around the NWT's five regions - the Sahtu, the Beaufort-Delta, the Deh Cho as well as the North and South Slave - is done on purpose, in part so everyone gets to enjoy the economic impact of hosting.

"The GNWT is based in Yellowknife and people have to go to them," Paci said.

"The Dene Nation has an office in Yellowknife but travels to the communities. It may be more expensive but it does share the wealth."

Many people travelling to Deline will be billeted or camp, but the Grey Goose Lodge has been booked for a month.

The 12 rooms and four bed-and-breakfast buildings will house government officials, said Buddy Kenny, manager of the Grey Goose.

The meetings also reach the traditional economy that is not represented in the gross national product, Paci said.

"There is a whole economy of traditional food," he said.

"The price of a caribou steak can't compare with the price of a beef steak bought in a store."

Artists and crafters benefit from the influx of people, as well.

"For example, I have some smoked moosehide and a beaver pelt to be made into gloves," he said.

Packed agenda

In addition to festivities, the three days will be packed with items to discuss.

A blueprint for health, the new Tlicho government, the proposed pipeline and other development impacts will be on the list, he said.

As well, resource revenue sharing and the new Northern Strategy funding announced last week will need to be addressed, particularly for Ndilo and Dettah, to determine if they are part of the funding for Yellowknife, he said.