DETTAH - Dene leaders are calling for the resignation of aboriginal MLAs who back the territory's devolution agreement-in-principle.

President of the Gwich'in Tribal Council Richard Nerysoo said certain MLAs are tearing the aboriginal community apart. - Louise Brown/NNSL photo

"That’s how serious this is,” said Bill Erasmus, the Assembly of First Nations’ Northwest Territories regional chief, who joined with territorial Dene leaders for an emergency leadership meeting in Dettah. The three-day event, which began Wednesday and continues until tomorrow, was called explicitly to discuss devolution.

The majority of MLAs in the assembly are of aboriginal descent and the fact they support the agreement was frustrating for the leaders in attendance.

"Over half of our legislative assembly members are aboriginals,” said Chief Edward Sangris of Akaitcho Territory. “But do they realize what they are doing to their people?”

Erasmus said he believes they have other priorities besides aboriginal issues.

"It does not help us, that’s what’s disappointing, they have their own agendas,” Erasmus added.

Richard Nerysoo, president of the Gwich’in Tribal Council, echoed Erasmus’ sentiments and blamed elected representatives for tearing the community apart.

"We are failing because there are leaders in the NWT that don’t want us to be together,” he said, and added that he is not out to attack any particular individual.

In general, he said there is a sense of dishonesty in the legislative assembly and that MLAs’ actions are different from what they say.

"When I listen to the comments that are being made in the assembly, I’m not sure if they are capable of telling the truth,” Nerysoo said. “The processes that they are engaging in are not reflective of the agreements they made,” he said.

Erasmus said he noticed the same thing. He pointed to the premier’s flip-flop on the agreement-in-principle as proof.

"Floyd Roland said this is not a good deal, then two days later, he signed it,” Erasmus said, referring to Roland's statement to the media saying the agreement is "not the best deal."

Nerysoo said a possible reason for some of the MLAs to support the agreement-in-principle could be because they want to create their own legacies.

"Some of them choose not to listen to anything else, simply because it might be a legacy. The problem is: that legacy affects us,” he said.

Other leaders focused on the financial reasons for accepting the agreement.

"They saw the potential for huge monetary gains that exist in our homeland,” said Sangris. “Over 51 per cent of (territorial) GDP comes out of Akaitcho.”

The Dene Nation have consulted legal counsel on the issue, which Erasmus describes as a Constitutional challenge and compares it to the Charlottetown Accord.

"What they're doing here is through the back door," Erasmus said. "I don't even know if they can devolve until they are a province. The whole issue might have to be taken to court."

In the meantime, the Dene leaders are focusing on pressuring MLAs to change.

"Right now, there is no truth, and certainly no integrity," Nerysoo said.

Premier Floyd Roland would not comment.

We welcome your opinions. Click here to e-mail a letter to the editor.