Hay River Reserve (Aug 07/06) - NWT political circles may not have seen the last of Noeline Villebrun.

While she did not seek re-election as national chief of the Dene Nation at the organization's recent assembly, she now has her eyes set on Ottawa.

Villebrun said she plans to run in the Western Arctic riding for the First Peoples National Party of Canada in the next federal election.

She said one of the reasons she decided not to run for re-election as national chief, even though she believes she would have won, was that she was approached to be a federal candidate.

Villebrun noted she was actually approached to run before the last election, but decided against it because she had signed an oath to serve for three years with the Dene Nation.

Should she make it on the ballot, she will be the first candidate to run for the party in Western Arctic riding.

In the federal election earlier this year, the party ran five candidates in Alberta, B.C. and Ontario.

"The party is about First People's issues," Villebrun said. She added the established political parties sometimes force MPs to take positions that are not in the interests of aboriginal people.

For example, she noted former Western Arctic Liberal MP Ethel Blondin-Andrew had to toe the party line on gun control, even though most Dene were against the idea.

Villebrun also plans to file a human rights complaint - based on gender discrimination - as a result of her tumultuous three years as Dene Nation leader.

She claims there was a lack of support from the Department of Indian Affairs and Northern Development and "manipulation" of events by some Dene Nation leaders, whom she declined to name.

"I feel I'll have a good human rights case," she said.

She would not say when her complaint would be filed, but noted, "You'll hear about it."

Chief Charlie Furlong of Aklavik believes the Dene Nation should be dissolved.

Furlong made the suggestion in a letter to the assembly as he was not there in person due to the bi-annual Gwich'in gathering.

"The Dene Nation will never again see its mandate or authority increase because communities and regions are quite capable of running their own affairs," Furlong wrote.

The Dene Nation's new National Chief Bill Erasmus said he is not surprised by Furlong's letter.

"People have been questioning the Dene Nation for a long time, depending on their involvement and the way they see the world," he said.

Erasmus will discuss the issue with Gwich'in leaders, whom he noted are still members of the Dene Nation.*

Highlights of the Dene Nation annual assembly

'Travel part of the job'

Outgoing National Chief Noeline Villebrun defended the amount of travel outside the NWT she did during her three years in office.

"It wasn't at my whim when I wanted a holiday," Villebrun said.

She said the Dene Nation needs a national and international voice on issues such as climate change.

"Yes, I did travel the world, but that was part of my job," she explained.

Yellowknives oppose devolution

Chief Peter Liske of the Yellowknives Dene First Nation expressed concern about possible devolution of powers from Ottawa to the GNWT.

"Devolution should not happen at this time," Liske said, explaining that, once the GNWT has more powers, it would be hard for First Nations to get them.

NDP back Kelowna

In an appearance at the assembly, national New Democrat leader Jack Layton committed to defending the Kelowna Accord, which would have spent $5 billion over 10 years on aboriginal issues, such as improved housing.

The accord was reached between First Nations leaders, the previous Liberal government as well as the provinces and territories. But the Conservatives have backed away from the deal.

"We're going to continue to use our votes, now 29 votes in the House of Commons, to attempt to urge the government and, if necessary, force the government to take action," Layton said. "They can't simply go walking away from an agreement that was signed by the government of Canada."