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THEBACHA/FORT SMITH
Fort Smith's Salt River First Nation is now out of the Akaitcho Territory Government, but that may not be permanent.

Chief David Poitras confirmed that his band left Akaitcho as of Dec. 21.

That's the date at the end of a six-month written notice of Salt River's intention to withdraw from the tribal government.

However, Poitras said Salt River may return to Akaitcho.

The chief said he is talking to members of Salt River and asking them whether the band should return to Akaitcho.

"They've had six months to think about it and what they want to do," he said.

Poitras explained that there is no formal process to join Akaitcho Territory Government.

"So getting in would just require a decision by the membership," he said. "I talked with Akaitcho about it and, just to be fair, I said I would take it to the membership and, if the membership decide they want to stay with Akaitcho, we'll stay."

Poitras said some members of Salt River have been telling him they liked the traditional and cultural aspects of Akaitcho, such as attending assemblies and other gatherings.

"The other part of it would be strengthening Akaitcho and Salt River," he said.

Poitras said he is not going to make a recommendation either way on the issue.

"I'm going to leave it up to the membership," he said, adding he will be OK with the decision either way.

The chief said Salt River decided to leave the Akaitcho as a result of several matters, which he declined to discuss.

Those issues have now been worked out with Akaitcho, he noted. "Because we no longer have any issues, it's a non-issue now to go back."

In the summer, Poitras mentioned a number of issues to explain why Salt River was leaving the Akaitcho Territory Government, including the fact that Akaitcho did not discuss some matters with other governments because of its unsettled land claim.

"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," he said in the summer, listing such issues as devolution, proposed amendments to the Wildlife Act and the NWT Water Strategy.

Salt River signed its own treaty land entitlement agreement in 2002.

Poitras said the issue of possibly rejoining Akaitcho will be brought up at special assemblies already planned for February.

Salt River's decision to leave the Akaitcho Territory Government was made at a special assembly in June.

Akaitcho represents the social, political, cultural, environmental and economic interests of its five member First Nations - Salt River, Deninu Ku'e in Fort Resolution, Lutsel K'e, the Yellowknives of Dettah and Ndilo, and Smith's Landing of Northern Alberta.

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