Dez Loreen
Northern News Services

Inuvik (Oct 17/05) - Recent talk of a 'doomed pipeline' has many people in the Beaufort-Delta wondering what the future holds.

With recent news of demands from Imperial Oil for a $2 billion government subsidy, some people in the region say they're worried the promised jobs and prosperity won't materialize.

"I'm worried," said Ruby St. Amand of Inuvik.

"I worry for the youth that will have to grow up in our region if the pipeline fails."

Aklavik mayor Billy Archie said the situation seems like a repeat of the economic depression that occurred back in 1977 when the National Energy Board refused a permit to allow Alaskan gas to be shipped down the Mackenzie Valley.

"All the folks my age have seen the boom and bust before, why should we get our hopes up?" asked Archie.

"It's all industry dictated."

Inuvik's Dennis Allen, however, believes life will go on without a pipeline.

"Even if the pipeline doesn't go through, it won't mean the end of the world for us," said Allen.

"Our economic development needs improving (but) it seems people think our lives depend on this pipeline."

Allen said one of the problems the North is facing is mismanagement of other natural resources.

"You see virtually no locally processed foods or animal products like leather or hide," said Allen.

"We've got an abundance of fish and caribou and moose. I'm sure there are people who would excel in these types of little industries. Because it's already a part of our culture."

Despite gloomy feelings about a 'non-pipeline' future, Nellie Cournoyea, head of the Inuvialuit Regional Corporation, said the pipeline is going on just as it always has.

"We've faced obstacles like this before, and overcame them," said Cournoyea.

She pointed to one-third ownership of the pipeline by the Aboriginal Pipeline Group, which she says was a greater obstacle than securing commitments from Imperial.

"That was very difficult and very time consuming," said Cournoyea.

Cournoyea is convinced that once the last hurdle with Imperial has been cleared, construction plans will resume.

According to Cournoyea, negotiations stopped when Imperial requested a single agreement from all the aboriginal groups whose land the pipeline will cross.

"The Inuvialuit have our own claim, with our own rules. All the groups do," said Cournoyea.

"We're trying to negotiate a win-win situation for all of us involved with this.

Allen said, ultimately, it will be the responsibility of Northern leaders to ensure that prosperity continues.

"We elected those people to represent us. I think the responsibility lies with them. It's up to them to find sustainable development," said Allen.

"I've seen it before. the pipeline is just easy money. Easy come, easy go."