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LIIDLII KUE/FORT SIMPSON
The Dehcho Process remains a key and divisive issue for the Dehcho First Nations (DFN).

Pehdzeh Ki First Nation Chief Tim Lennie, left, explains to the Dehcho First Nations' annual assembly Wrigley's decision to leave the Dehcho Process. Wrigley elder Gabe Hardisty, right, spoke after Lennie. - Roxanna Thompson/NNSL photo

The DFN held its annual assembly in Fort Simpson from June 26 to 28 and the Dehcho Process was part of the discussions during each of the assembly's three days.

It also sparked one of the most notable events at the gathering.

On June 27, Chief Tim Lennie of Pehdzeh Ki First Nation announced the community of Wrigley's decision to leave the Dehcho Process and negotiate a community comprehensive claims policy directly with Canada.

For the past few years, the community has considered withdrawing from the Dehcho Process, said Lennie.

The decision was made during a series of two community meetings in June. Lennie said despite decades of talks with the federal government, Pehdzeh Ki First Nation (PKFN) doesn't have an agreement and receives no benefits from developments taking place on its traditional lands.

Additionally, Lennie said, for years he's told the Dehcho First Nations' annual assembly about the lack of capacity in the community for consultation on the Dehcho Process.

"Today it's no different," he said.

On June 20, community members voted unanimously to direct the PKFN leadership to enter into a comprehensive claim process with Canada. Lennie said the community's gymnasium was close to full at the time.

"We need to speak for ourselves," he said. "Members need to be directly involved."

Lennie said he recognizes this will be a long process with a lot of learning involved and a lot of work. Whatever is agreed to today, our children will be implementing it, he said.

"My main priority is to take care of the future generation," he said.

Wrigley is the second community to leave the Dehcho Process. In July 2008, Acho Dene Koe First Nation in Fort Liard signed a framework agreement with the federal and territorial governments allowing it to conduct its own land claims and self-government negotiations.

After Lennie's announcement, other leaders voiced their understanding of Wrigley's decision.

Chief Keyna Norwegian of Liidlii Kue First Nation said she thinks all communities are feeling the same frustration.

"We know the government is not negotiating in good faith," she said.

Norwegian said the federal government is not providing the resources to allow them to deal with development and exploration companies in the region, she said.

Norwegian said Eric Poirier, lead negotiator for Canada, can be proud of pushing the government's divide-and-conquer agenda when it comes to the Dehcho Process.

Building the resources for the Dehcho Process negotiations and involving and updating communities was a major topic at the assembly.

Georges Erasmus, the lead negotiator for DFN, gave a summary of the process after Lennie's announcement.

Forty-six chapters of the agreement-in-principle are being worked on and there has been progress in a number of areas, including jurisdiction on social topics such as education, income assistance, social housing and adoption, said Erasmus.

Some chapters have been completed but there are still areas, such as the Dehcho Resource Management Authority and control over land and resources, where major issues have yet to be resolved, he said. DFN is also working with less money to negotiate.

The negotiations team started with $2.8 million per year, but last year the budget was slashed to $1 million. The reduced funding led to changes in the negotiations, including doing all sessions by telephone or video conferencing.

This year, DFN was offered even less from the federal government, only $700,000. It's an incredible

reduction, said Erasmus

To have face-to-face quarterly leadership meetings and to have field staff in the communities would take approximately $2 million, Erasmus said.

On June 28, a resolution was brought forward to the assembly to apply for a loan for a maximum of $1 million. After an in-camera discussion, the resolution was tabled.

Newly elected Grand Chief Herb Norwegian said the feelings that are coming out of Wrigley are echoed across the region.

"People are just getting edgy," he said. "People want something to happen."

Wrigley is in this position because of a sense of not belonging and because of a lack of information about the Dehcho Process, he said.

"You have communities that are just starving for information," said Norwegian.

Norwegian said his main priority as grand chief will be to continue to move the Dehcho Process forward and to travel to the communities to provide information and to get them reinvigorated about the process.

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