Fort Simpson (Feb 17/06) - Dehcho First Nations is arguing that their rights have been infringed upon by 37 prospecting permits that were issued by Indian and Northern Affairs Canada.

Grand Chief Herb Norwegian said the Dehcho First Nations communities didn't provide support for the permits.

It's an infringement of our rights. We are not going to lie down on this one. - Grand Chief Herb Norwegian

Section 39 of the interim measures agreement signed on May 23, 200, 1 indicates no new prospecting permits will be issued in the Dehcho territory without support of the affected communities, said Norwegian.

"It's an infringement of our rights. We are not going to lie down on this one," he said.

According to Norwegian, the misunderstanding stems from a meeting held in Hay River on Oct. 20.

At the meeting, a number of chiefs and executive directors from the Deh Cho talked with Indian Affairs officials about prospecting permits.

It was made very clear that the meeting was only an information session and not a consultation, said Norwegian.

He said Indian Affairs is claiming it received approval for the permits at that meeting.

James Lawrance, the director of aboriginal and territorial relations for the NWT region for Indian Affairs, said his department started a process with the Dehcho - as set out by the interim measures agreement - to get its support for areas it felt prospecting permits could be issued.

Indian Affairs carried on with the process following the understanding it thought it had with Dehcho leaders - that they would support the issuing of permits in areas of the Dehcho land use plan that were open for mineral development, he said.

The understanding was reached at the Hay River meeting, which was held specifically to discuss it, said Lawrance.

It was agreed an official from DFN would work with Indian Affairs to create industry guidelines.

Lawrance said it was after the guidelines were released that Indian Affairs received a letter from Norwegian indicating the Dehcho were changing their approach.

"That was too far down the road of this collaborative approach we'd worked out with them to change direction," said Lawrance.

"The spirit and intent of the interim measures agreement had been honoured by us," said Lawrance.

He said Indian Affairs is continuing to talk with the Dehcho First Nations on this issue and is trying to work to overcome the disagreement.

In a press release, the Dehcho First Nations said any staking without consultation will result in "immediate and aggressive action."

There are a number of options that might be taken, including pulling the stakes, said Norwegian.

Trappers are ready and they have the locations of the claims, he said

Norwegian still has the stakes in his office that were pulled in 2003 from mineral claims.

"If their stakes are going to be put into the ground, we'll go out there and we'll be pulling the damn stakes out and driving them into the hearts of these vampires, the industry that's out there - the bloodthirsty invaders," said Norwegian.