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DKFN objects to cabin's removal from territorial park
Paul Bickford
Northern News Services
Published Saturday, June 15, 2013
DENINU K'UE/FORT RESOLUTION
A cabin owned by Deninu K'ue First Nation (DKFN) has been unceremoniously removed from Little Buffalo River Crossing Territorial Park, about 20 kilometres west of Fort Resolution, and Chief Louis Balsillie is not happy about it.
Chief Louis Balsillie of Deninu K'ue First Nation stands in front of a band cabin that the GNWT dragged out of Little Buffalo River Crossing Territorial Park. - Paul Bickford/NNSL photo
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Balsillie said the cabin – placed in the campground late last fall as part of the band's fishing monitoring program – was dragged out of the park on June 6 by a contractor hired by the Department of Industry, Tourism and Investment (ITI).
It was relocated to just outside the gate to the campground on Highway 6.
Balsillie said the band is worried about overfishing on the river, especially by Albertans who come to the park in groups from La Crete and High Level.
"We don't know what they're taking," the chief said, adding a large group had been at the park for a couple of weeks before departing on June 9.
"They come and go," he said. "Sometimes you'll have 30 or 40 people in there with campers."
Little Buffalo River is a popular location to catch pickerel and pike. DKFN has had a monitoring program on the river for about 10 years, but this would have been the first summer with a cabin in the park. Previously, the person hired by the band as an angling surveyor would watch the river from a vehicle on shore and by boat.
The cabin would have helped with the monitoring because it would put the surveyor right among the out-of-territory fishers and on the river. It would also be a place to hand out surveys and informational pamphlets.
Lloyd Jones, ITI's regional superintendent for the South Slave, had little to say about the cabin's removal when contacted by News/North.
"We're dealing with the matter and we're going to be meeting with Deninu K'ue First Nation," said Jones on June 13. "That's all I can say at this time."
No date had been set for a meeting.
Balsillie was particularly annoyed by the cabin removal considering the GNWT and the chiefs of the Akaitcho Territory Government signed a memorandum of understanding for intergovernmental co-operation on May 23.
Despite that, he said ITI knew why the cabin was in the park, but still had it removed without telling him.
"To me, that's not better working relationships," he said. "I should have been contacted."
Balsillie said the territorial park is on the traditional lands of DKFN and band members have the right to place the cabin in the park.
The chief said it appears ITI has no problem with letting the cabin stay where it is now at the entrance to the park, but he explained it is not the proper place for the monitoring to take place.
Balsillie wants the cabin re-established inside the park and to have a meeting with ITI on the matter.
The band's lawyer also sent a letter to ITI, including minister David Ramsay, stating the band's objections to the removal of the cabin.
The letter stated the cabin was a safe shelter to support DKFN members exercising their treaty rights to fish at the site and to act as stewards of the area.
"DKFN has previously communicated its concerns to your department about the lack of proper monitoring and maintenance of the site by Parks and Tourism," the letter stated. "In particular, DKFN is concerned that its priority to the fishery is not being protected by GNWT; rather, it is being eroded by GNWT's creation and promotion of the park, and GNWT's failure to adequately regulate the park."
The letter continues to state DKFN has a constitutionally-protected right to maintain a cabin in the park, adding, "On this basis, we ask that you take immediate steps to reinstall the cabin that you removed."
The letter also stated the DKFN view is that the park infringes on treaty rights and requested a meeting to address that concern.
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