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LIIDLII KUE/FORT SIMPSON - In a move designed to end the current impasse in negotiations with the federal and territorial governments, the Dehcho First Nations' leadership has given their negotiating team new flexibility in their mandate.

Leaders and representatives from Deh Cho first nation and Metis' groups met in Fort Simpson from Feb. 24 to 26 for the Dehcho First Nations' winter leadership meeting. The issue of how to proceed with negotiations on the Dehcho Process and the Dehcho Land Use Plan, which have been stalled since June, occupied all of Wednesday morning.

Peter Corneille, left, and Rita Cli listen to Chief Keyna Norwegian during the Dehcho First Nations' winter leadership meeting held in Fort Simpson. - Roxanna Thompson/NNSL photo

Just after 12 p.m., the leadership unanimously passed a resolution that confirmed the completion, approval and implementation of the land use plan is the highest negotiating priority, but allowed negotiations towards an agreement in principal to occur at the same time.

The resolution, which modifies a decision made at the last annual assembly, is expected to pave the way for renewed negotiations.

"They should be pretty happy about it," said George Erasmus, referring to the federal negotiators.

In a lead up to the resolution, Erasmus, the chief negotiator for DFN, explained why the negotiations have stalled.

"The year started off very good last April," said Erasmus.

At that point DFN was exchanging different ideas on various parts of an agreement in principal with both Canada and the territorial government. This negotiating atmosphere changed after DFN's annual assembly in June.

At the assembly the leadership passed a resolution that prioritized the order the negotiations should follow. According to the resolution DFN would only negotiate lands, resources and self-government agreements in principal if Canada approved and agreed to implement the Dehcho Land Use Plan.

Following the assembly, the three parties were delayed getting back to the negotiating table - first by a summer break and then by the fall federal election, said Erasmus. When the parties finally met for three days in November the federal negotiators responded to the assembly resolution by stating they didn't have a mandate to negotiate in a fixed order, Erasmus said.

Because of their lack of mandate, no negotiations were held in either December or January. A three day meeting in February was whittled down to one day and one message.

"What they told us is there's nothing new," he said.

"It's been a very frustrating period."

Allowing the negotiating team some flexibility to move between topics came out of a three-day strategic workshop held by DFN from Feb. 3 to 5. Erasmus urged the delegates at the winter leadership meeting to consider the option.

"It's not in the interest of the Deh Cho that nothing happen before the annual assembly," he said.

A number of delegates voiced their frustration with the lack of progress with the negotiations.

"Personally, I'm fed-up with the federal government. They've been using us," said President Marie Lafferty of the Fort Simpson Metis Nation.

The government doesn't agree with anything that's put on the table and has been playing games with DFN for years, said Lafferty.

"Frankly, I don't respect them," she said. "I don't like the federal government and the territorial government is right in there behind them."

A majority of delegates also spoke about the need for progress.

"We need to get the ball rolling again," said Cliff McLeod, a representative for the Fort Providence Metis Council.

Rita Cli, a delegate for Liidlii Kue First Nation of Fort Simpson, had a similar viewpoint.

"We're at a standstill now. To be flexible to do some work we need this resolution," she said.

Erasmus said the resolution should help the negotiation sessions, scheduled for the next four months, to move forward.