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DENINU KUE/FORT RESOLUTION
The Akaitcho Territory Dene First Nations launched legal action against the Government of Canada, the Fort Smith Metis Council and the Hay River Metis Council on Feb. 13.

The Akaitcho, including the Deninu Ku'e First Nation, Lutsel K'e First Nation and the Yellowknives Dene First Nation in Dettah and Ndilo, are dissatisfied with treaty negotiations, according to Chief Louis Balsillie of Fort Resolution.

Their legal action is based upon the Crown's constitutional obligation to consult with them when the proposed action of government will or may impact their ability to exercise treaty rights, he said.

"(It is) based on the Crown's continued refusal over many years to consult the Akaitcho First Nations regarding their negotiations on proposed land, resource and governance with the Metis councils in the South Slave region of the Northwest Territories," he added.

Balsillie said that despite numerous requests by the Akaitcho First Nation, the Crown has failed to make any meaningful changes. He said the legal action included the Metis councils of Fort Smith and Hay River as a result of their participation in the negotiation process.

"The reason we didn't include the Metis local government of Fort Resolution is because we feel they're descendants of our treaty, so that's why they're not included in this legal action," he said.

The Akaitcho's leaders - including Chief Ed Sangris of the Yellowknives Dene in Dettah, Chief Ted Tsetta of the Yellowknives Dene in Ndilo, and Chief Antoine Michel of the Lutsel K'e Dene - feel it's time the government starts prioritizing their negotiations, Balsillie said.

"We want to see who owns the land," he said. "We want them to stop dealing with (the Metis) and start dealing with us."

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