BEHCHOKO - Two years after Tlicho Agreement ratification, Grand Chief George Mackenzie said he has spent more time grappling with the territorial government than nation building.

Tlicho Grand Chief George Mackenzie (right) and assembly member James Rabesca listen to comments made during the Tlicho Assembly's 10th session in Behchoko, held last Wednesday, Thursday and Friday. - Jason Unrau/NNSL photo

"To us it's very clear (what GNWT's obligations are) and things could be resolved in a good and fair way, but that's not happening," said Mackenzie. "So a lot of our energy, resources and time is going toward this... where our energy should be spent is building our nation, our government."

The recent agreement-in-principle (AIP) between the GNWT and four aboriginal governments on resource revenue sharing deal with Ottawa is the latest in a series of government decisions Mackenzie said violated the Tlicho land claim and self-government agreement.

"At this time we have no confidence in the current government and when you don't have confidence, you cannot agree with the proposal," he added.

The Tlicho, Dehcho and Akaitcho did not sign the AIP and all have signalled their opposition to the deal.

Before the AIP, it was Environment and Natural Resources Minister Michael McLeod signing off on amendments affecting caribou in the Tlicho region that raised Mackenzie's ire.

The chief said the Tlicho Agreement obligates the GNWT to consult with his government before decisions are made that affect its people, land or resources. The Tlicho is crafting a consultation process with the territorial government but if that fails, Mackenzie said there are other options.

"We have alternatives, we can go directly to the feds," he said.