Inuvik (Jun 30/06) - Faced with a July 31 deadline to join the Aboriginal Pipeline Group, Dehcho First Nations said it needs more time and assurances.

Grand Chief Herb Norwegian said last week Fred Carmichael, chair of the Aboriginal Pipeline Group (APG), sent a letter informing Dehcho First Nations of the deadline.

"It's not going to work for us at all," Norwegian said.

The agreement is being reviewed, but there is still a long way to go before it will look attractive, Norwegian said. The Dehcho First Nations had asked for a December deadline to make the decision.

"They are standing outside the Dehcho window looking into the Dehcho house and trying to impose demands. They can stand there all they like," Norwegian said, about the APG.

The Aboriginal Pipeline Group is facing a real deadline, Bob Reid, president of the group, said.

Reid said the July 31 deadline was chosen because of the process needed to put finances in place. The APG wants to have all the money for the commitment to construct in place by the third quarter of 2007.

If the financing is not finished by the time regulatory approval is gained, the APG would have to give up their third of ownership in the pipeline, Reid said.

"Losing our ownership of the pipeline would be a tremendous loss to all aboriginal groups in the group," he said.

There is no way to extend the deadline, said Reid. If the Dehcho First Nations does not meet the deadline, they will have to make a decision at the time regardless.

There are a number of issues that need to be addressed before the Dehcho First Nations could consider joining the APG, Norwegian said.

In a letter responding to Carmichael, Norwegian said it would be prejudicial to the Dehcho process if the Dehcho gave support to the APG and the construction of the pipeline before having an agreement with Canada on the jurisdiction over the land.

There would have to be significant movement on the Dehcho process and a crystal clear agreement on jurisdiction first, Norwegian said.

The letter also states that Imperial cannot estimate the project cost, so the APG cannot seriously start raising financing this summer because they don't know how much funding will be needed.

There is no urgency, Norwegian said, because the pipeline cannot be built on Dehcho lands without the consent of the people.

Reid said he respects the Dehcho's situation with the federal government, but it's a separate business deal that has nothing to do with the APG.

While the capital cost of the pipeline is under review, Reid said they don't need to know the total cost to start raising funds.

The APG would like to meet with Norwegian and the Dehcho to discuss the letter and the concerns they have, Reid said.