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OTTAWA - What began as a negotiation session became a whirlwind Deh Cho promotional and educational tour when members of the Dehcho First Nations' negotiating team visited Ottawa.

Grand Chief Jerry Antoine and Chief Berna Landry of the Deh Gah Got'ie Koe First Nation travelled to the nation's capital along with eight members of the Dehcho's negotiating team from Nov. 17 to 21. The team spent two days in negotiations, the first session undertaken since the Dehcho Annual assembly in June.

Jim Antoine, left, an assistant negotiator for Dehcho First Nations, Senator Nick Sibbeston and Grand Chief Jerry Antoine stand in front of the Parliament Buildings in Ottawa. Members of the Dehcho negotiating team were in the capital for a negotiation session. - photo courtesy of Senator Nick Sibbeston's office

The trip was "an opportunity to tell the Deh Cho story," said Antoine.

During, and in between the negotiations, Antoine, Landry and any other available Dehcho staff met with as many members of parliament, senators and government departmental staff as possible.

The goal was to raise awareness about the Dehcho First Nations (DFN) and the three projects that it's currently working on - including the Dehcho Land Use Plan, the expansion of the Nahanni National Park Reserve and the Edehzhie protected area, Antoine said.

"People have to know who we are, what we've been doing and what we'd like to see," he said.

In total, Antoine estimates he met with approximately 50 people, not including the quick contacts made during the social settings of two receptions.

The information given at each meeting varied depending on the audience, he said. Most meetings covered the chronology of the Dehcho Process before touching on DFN's three current projects.

"I really enjoyed it because it was positive, it was productive. It gave us an opportunity to open doors," Antoine said.

The contacts that were made will help the DFN as it progresses with the negotiations with Canada, he said.

Chief Berna Landry said she primarily focused on using the meetings to educate people who work in Ottawa about where DFN is with the Dehcho Land Use Plan.

In the meetings, Landry said she tried to explain Dehcho's perspective on land conservation.

"We're seeing it as a positive," said Landry.

"The idea is the land is not for sale."

The Land Use Plan doesn't mean DFN is opposed to development, but the people want to be involved in any decisions made about the land, she said.

This was part of the message that was given to Jack Layton, the leader of the NDP, and Dennis Bevington, the MP for the Western Arctic, who met with the group for approximately 45 minutes.

"I was really happy they gave us their time although they were busy responding to the throne speech," said Landry.

For both Antoine and Landry the throne speech was one of the other highlights of the trip. Both leaders were in the Parliament and listened while Michaelle Jean, the Governor General of Canada, deliver the speech on Nov. 19

"I was really privileged to be there when that happened," said Antoine.

The speech, which outlined the agenda for the new government, didn't touch on many aboriginal issues but did make references to reducing regulatory and other barriers to extending pipeline networks into the North, said Antoine.

Having listened to the speech, Antoine said he's hopeful the new government can work with the DFN to meet their needs and aspirations.

"The way I see it the Deh Cho's not going anywhere. We want to resolve our relationship," said Antoine.