DETTAH - Unity was a word passed around the discussion during opening day of the three-day Dene Leadership Meeting in Dettah on Monday.

Inuvik Gwich'in Chief Herbert Blake stands at the ring of tables bringing the regions of the NWT together for the Dene Leadership Meeting in Dettah, Tuesday. - Kira Curtis/NNSL photo

The solidarity is something Inuvik Gwich'in Chief Herbert Blake thinks the territorial government is surprised to see from the five regions in regards to devolution.

"I don't think they expected (us to unite)," Blake smiles. "They thought we'd just roll over."

Chiefs and delegates from Gwich'in, Sahtu, Deh Cho, Tlicho and Akaitcho regions filled the large room of the Chief Drygeese Conference Centre in Dettah to discuss devolution.

"All we want is to be party," says Blake. "Party to the discussion and eventually the decision going to be made when it comes to devolution."

Unhappiness with the way the territory has moved forward with devolution was voiced from all five regions. Many of aboriginal governments want to deal with the federal government directly and finalize land treaties.

Blake is proud to see all the First Nations groups coming together with a common goal. They are standing against the GNWT's move toward devolution from the federal government without involving the First Nations peoples.

As the discussion passed around the ring of tables, speakers from regions north to south were all singing to the same tune: to make sure the federal government does not devolve powers to the NWT before it's ready.

"We need to know how we're going to work in the north before we sign anything," Dene National chief Bill Erasmus said. "We have to be the ones that decide what happens on the lands."

Most of the speakers during the discussion said they will not support devolution without both the territorial and federal governments listening to their concerns and involving them.

Blake is concerned with the lack of human element in government, and feels that both the territorial and federal governments don't understand that the Dene people can come together and govern together.

"We've been on this land governing ourselves for thousands of years," Blake said, "and we're still here."

Many of the chiefs and delegates said the communication with the federal government is weak and there are land treaties and other unfinished issues that need to be resolved before a new form of government can develop. Many said they do not want these land and resource issues to be passed on for the territory to deal with. There's major concern that First Nations input, rights and money will not be considered.

The questions asked during the open discussion were: Where do we go from here? And are we involved as aboriginal people? Erasmus said they are involved and have the education to "include modern ways" in this fight and not lose their culture.

Right now the strongest weapon in the Dene's stand against the territorial government is coming together as one frontline, said Blake.

"We are going to put on a united front, and we're going to do our best to kill this thing," Blake said.

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