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LIIDLII KUE/FORT SIMPSON - The Acho Dene Koe First Nation of Fort Liard (ADK) has decided to remove itself from the Dehcho Process.

A resolution was passed unanimously last week at the fall leadership meeting in Fort Providence to remove the Acho Dene Koe First Nation from the definition of Dehcho First Nations communities and the entire Dehcho Process.

On July 14, the ADK signed an agreement with the territorial and federal governments to negotiate its own land claims agreement. In a previous interview at the time of the signing, ADK Chief Steven Kotchea said the First Nation wanted to assert its claim over land in British Columbia and Yukon, as well as the NWT.

Anne Marie McGuire, executive director for the Acho Dene Koe First Nation, said this move away from the Dehcho First Nations has been something in the works for a long time.

"Part of ADK joining in with DFN was that there was a resolution signed that ADK would be looking after its own interest because the Dehcho Process does not go past the border," she said. "They've been aware that they would not be able to negotiate anything past the border."

McGuire said the overall feeling within the ADK is the Dehcho First Nations didn't think they would remove themselves from the process.

"That's the feeling most of have that they were surprised we actually did it," she said. "In spite of the former chief telling the DFN that we were doing it, they still seemed surprised."

Dehcho First Nations Grand Chief Jerry Antoine said the ADK separating from the Dehcho First Nations and the process could ultimately cause division among the region and hinder the land claims negotiations.

He said because ADK moved on to facilitate their own claim based on land selection, they will need to work out an understanding with three communities they share land with in the Deh Cho. Fort Simpson is affected, but Trout Lake and Nahanni Butte stand to lose most.

"It has to be resolved," Antoine said. "If people co-operate with each other it can be straightforward, but it will likely take longer to come to an agreement.

"What they have done will bring implications to the process. So we need to start talking to them. There has been some correspondence between the two offices with some clarity, but there is still a lot of work to be done."

Both the Sambaa K'e Dene and Nahanni Butte First Nations were unavailable for comment at press time.

McGuire said the road ahead is going to be long and difficult, but in the end it will be what's in the best interest of the ADK.

"We are in negotiations with Canada and the GNWT, developing a constitution and working ultimately towards a ratification vote that will need to occur as part of the process towards getting a final treaty," McGuire said.

"We have history in the making happening because it's negotiations with four different governments. These are very exciting times for us."