John Curran
Northern News Services

Fort Franklin (Aug 01/05) - With Deline seeing more and more petroleum and mining exploration, elder Alfred Taniton and the other members of the Renewable Resource Council know they have an important job.

They will play a key role in ensuring the proper safeguards are in place to protect the fish and animals that have sustained the community for generations.

"We think a lot about what's happened in Colville Lake with the oil and gas," he said. "Because of the noise the caribou have gone very far from town there."

Taniton understands the vital roles caribou and fish play in the lives of everyone one of his neighbours' lives. He also works to ensure the band's oral history is preserved by recounting stories so others may learn from his wisdom.

"All around the lake the animals and fish were mandated to us," he said with the assistance of a translator. "We were given the key by our ancestors and told not to give that key to anyone else."

Many of Deline's elders were raised on the land, which Taniton said has stayed the same for many years.

In addition to oil and gas, there are prospectors looking for diamonds and various minerals on the lake's north shore. As well there are plans within the community to perhaps dam the Great Bear River at the St. Charles Rapids to generate hydroelectric power. The project could supply not only the region, but also the proposed Mackenzie Valley Pipeline with clean hydroelectric power and cut the use of costly diesel fuel dramatically.

The river initiative is a partnership between the Deline Land Corp., the Tulita Yamouria Secretariat and Sahdae Energy, a subsidiary of the NWT Power Corp.

"We elders are OK with the way things are going today, but we have to make sure we protect the animals because we can't make any new ones if we mess up," said Taniton.