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DEH CHO - The Dehcho Process and the Dehcho Land Use Plan top the list of initiatives local leaders say they would like to see progress on in 2009.

All five of the leaders who were contacted by the Deh Cho Drum about their 2009 goals listed either one or both of the initiatives as areas of concern.

Back at work after the holidays, Grand Chief Jerry Antoine predicts 2009 will be a busy year for the Dehcho First Nations. - Roxanna Thompson/NNSL photo

"The negotiations are not moving," said Marie Lafferty, president of the Fort Simpson Metis Nation.

The leadership problems the federal government is undergoing are affecting the process, she said.

"When they come to a standstill, so do our negotiations," said Lafferty.

The negotiation team needs to be directed to move forward, said Chief Keyna Norwegian of the Liidlii Kue First Nation.

Norwegian listed progress on the Dehcho Process as her second goal for the year, just behind unity within the Fort Simpson band.

"Unity is number one," said Norwegian.

The lack of movement in the negotiations is having a direct effect on the Ka'a'gee Tu First Nation.

Under the new deal with the territorial government the band is supposed to assume responsibility for a number of services as well as some infrastructure, said Chief Lloyd Chicot.

The stalled negotiations are hampering the band from becoming a recognized authority that can take on those responsibilities, said Chicot. One of the band's initiatives for 2009 is to make plans for administering the services, something that hinges on the negotiations, Chicot said.

"We want to see where it's going to go," said Chicot about the Dehcho Process.

In Nahanni Butte both the Dehcho Land Use Plan and the proposed expansion of the Nahanni National Park Reserve (NNPR) are areas the community would like to see progress on.

"We need to get going on land use," said Chief Fred Tesou, who said he wants to see the plan completed.

As for the park, Tesou said he wants to have further talks with Parks Canada about the expansion. Nahanni Butte is the closest community to the NNPR and will be directly affected. Community members need to see that they will benefit from an expanded park, he said.

One option is to move the park office back to Nahanni Butte, he said.

On a local level Tesou plans to focus on the basics.

"A lot of families don't have housing or they have problems with their housing," he said.

Tesou said he would like to see repairs done on existing houses and have more units built in the community.

At the regional level the Dehcho First Nations (DFN) shares many of the community's goals, said Grand Chief Jerry Antoine.

Antoine said he'd like to see progress made on developing a positive relationship between DFN and the federal government.

Areas that need to be addressed include management of lands, implementing governance and enhancing the development of culture, he said.

Antoine said he is thinking ahead to the Dehcho annual assembly where a new grand chief will be chosen.

In order to prepare for the assembly both the leaders and the community members in the Deh Cho need to regroup, look at DFN's current position and identify objectives for the future, said Antoine.