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Salt River wants to be heard Paul Bickford Northern News Services Published Monday, July 2, 2012
"The main reason is that Salt River First Nation is no longer able to wait for Treaty 8 to negotiate their land claim with Canada as it leaves us out of decisions that affect Salt River in a negative way," said Chief David Poitras. The chief used the examples of devolution, proposed amendments to the Wildlife Act and the NWT Water Strategy. "Akaitcho often chooses not to participate or to participate as observers, and that leaves Salt River without a voice," he said. "So as a nation, we have evolved and matured and the membership believes that we are ready to move forward to continue our goals to develop strong self-government and also to implement our signed treaty land entitlement agreement of 2002." Poitras said Salt River expects to be included in any discussion which may affect it. "The territorial government and the federal government have a duty to consult with Salt River because we're a Treaty 8 First Nation, a duty to consult and accommodate," he said. "So it would be hard for them to leave us out of any discussions." On June 22, Salt River announced that, in accordance with its agreement with Akaitcho Territory Government, it was providing six months written notice of its intention to withdraw from the tribal government. Poitras noted Salt River is not part of the Akaitcho Treaty 8 Tribal Corporation, just the Akaitcho Territory Government. "They're two separate entities. Sometimes they would send their negotiators to the table, but not the chiefs," he said. "So Salt River figured we should be at the table to look after our own interests." The Akaitcho Treaty 8 Tribal Corporation represents Deninu Ku'e First Nation in Fort Resolution, Lutsel K'e Dene First Nation, and the Yellowknives Dene First Nation in Dettah and Ndilo. The corporation's primary function is the implementation of the treaty signed in 1900. The Akaitcho Territory Government represents the social, political, cultural, environmental and economic interests of its five member First Nations, including Salt River First Nation and Smith's Landing First Nation of northern Alberta. Salt River and Smith's Landing have both signed their own treaty land entitlement agreements. Poitras said the decision to leave the Akaitcho Territory Government was made at a Salt River special assembly on June 19 and all 40-plus members in attendance supported the move. The chief is not ruling out some sort of arrangement in the future between Salt River and Akaitcho. "The door isn't completely shut," he said. "Some day when Akaitcho have finally settled their claim, we can always negotiate a partnership again. We are not closing the door. We just want to move ahead our interests."
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