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HAY RIVER - The K'atlodeeche First Nations (KFN) of Hay River wants to be a part of the Aboriginal Pipeline Group (APG), the consortium formed in 2000 to ensure aboriginal groups in the Mackenzie Valley don't miss out on the dividends to pour out from the $16.2 billion Mackenzie pipeline.

The members of the KFN made a motion at the band's general meeting two weeks ago to join the Dehcho Pipeline Management Limited Partnership (DPMLP), a body aiming to unite the 11 communities that comprise the Dehcho First Nations to form one limited partner in the APG.

The APG stands to gain one third of the profits of the pipeline with the other two thirds going to oil producers Imperial Oil, ConocoPhillips and Shell.

The DPMLP will divide its share of the APG dividends among its members, which now currently include the Inuvialuit Development Corporation, the Gwich'in Tribal Council and the Sahtu Pipeline Trust.

APG's third will be split among its members according to the distance of the pipe through each region.

The DPMLP has not yet officially signed on to the APG, but two Dehcho communities - Fort Liard and Fort Simpson - have already climbed on board the DPMLP.

If Hay River joins the partnership, it will be third community to do so.

"We definitely want to get on stream," said KFN Chief Alec Sunrise. "But as to how it's done, we just need to look at that."

Sunrise said he wants to consult the chiefs of Fort Liard and Fort Simpson first before making a decision.

But a share in pipeline money is definitely a priority for his band, he said.

"We want to go forward with the economic side of things," Sunrise said.

Bob Reid, president of the APG, said with Fort Liard, Fort Simpson and potentially Hay River all signed on with the partnership, 55 per cent of Dehcho beneficiaries will be represented by the partnership.

"The KFN resolution to pursue ownership in the APG through the partnership is a very positive first step for the KFN and will put them on the road towards becoming a participant," said Reid.

Reid would not comment on what stage the other communities are at.

"We have been visiting with the communities in the Deh Cho now for probably a good four to five years," he said. "We've given them all the information they need."

One important challenge that still lies ahead is figuring out how the dividends will be divided by members of the Dehcho partnership, added Reid.

"In (the DFN's) discussions on the access and benefits agreement with the project itself, they are working on a formula to divide up the benefits among the communities and they're thinking about using that same formula to divide up the APG dividends," said Reid.

Reid would not specify what the formula is.