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Calling for better medevac services Briefs from the 2013 Dehcho First Nations' annual assembly
Roxanna Thompson
Northern News Services
Published Thursday, July 4, 2013
DEH GAH GOT'IE KOE/FORT PROVIDENCE
Dehcho First Nations is calling on the territorial government to improve its emergency medical and medevac response system, particularly as it relates to small communities.
Sambaa K'e Dene Band Chief Dolphus Jumbo, left, seated beside Arthur Jumbo, discusses Edehzhie and the difficulties faced while trying to protect areas of land on June 27 during the Dehcho First Nations' annual assembly in Fort Providence. - Roxanna Thompson/NNSL photo
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On the final day of the assembly, June 27, the delegates passed a resolution asking the GNWT to review its standards, procedures, equipment and response times for medevac emergencies and to examine all options to ensure timely and effective responses in the Deh Cho. The resolution also called for the implementation of a fail-safe communications system between the health centres.
Chief Dolphus Jumbo of the Sambaa K'e Dene Band in Trout Lake, whose community faced a long wait for a medevac plane following a boating accident in May, moved the resolution.
Dene National Chief Bill Erasmus suggested the resolution also be taken to the Dene Assembly and the Assembly of First Nations because many remote Northern communities in other jurisdictions face similar problems.
Federal representative needed
Based on a recommendation made by Joachim Bonnetrouge, the chair of the Dehcho Land Use Planning Committee, the assembly passed a resolution on June 27 calling for the minister of Aboriginal Affairs and Northern Development Canada to immediately appoint a federal representative to the committee.
Despite frequent letters and e-mails sent to the department, the committee hasn't had a federal representative since July 2012, Bonnetrouge said. A federal representative is needed for the committee to make its final decisions before presenting the draft interim land-use plan to the main negotiating table for the Dehcho Process.
Canada really needs to get back on the committee so the plan can be finished, said Grand Chief Herb Norwegian.
"We're excited. We want to continue to move this piece forward," he said.
Progress and setbacks with Edehzhie
The assembly heard that while there's been progress on Edehzhie, there's also been setbacks.
In March, the federal government agreed in writing to complete the final stages of the strategy to establish 14,250 square kilometres of Edehzhie as a national wildlife area.
The agreement, however, came with a caveat. Edehzhie would, as a national wildlife area, be given surface and subsurface protection from mineral development, but the federal government wants to keep the subsurface of Edehzhie open to oil and gas development with the understanding that the resulting infrastructure would be placed outside of the national wildlife area's boundaries, said Larry Innes during a presentation at the assembly.
DFN has already made it clear in a letter sent to the federal minister of the Environment that it won't support that condition. It's not right for Canada to be coming forward with a new condition at this late stage, said Innes, who provides legal counsel to DFN.
Canada is currently consulting internally on the terms for establishing Edehzhie as a national wildlife area.
Elders' Council re-examined
Dehcho First Nations elders' council may be revived.
On June 26, elders Gabe Hardisty of Wrigley and Yvonne Norwegian of Jean Marie River made a presentation on behalf of Dehcho First Nations' elders. The presentation suggested the council be restarted.
Chief Stan Sanguez of Jean Marie River First Nation and acting Chief Berna Landry of Deh Gah Got'ie First Nation both spoke in favour of the idea.
"The elders help me a lot and we benefit from their advice," said Landry.
Chief Minnie Letcher of Liidlii Kue First Nation cautioned that the purpose of the council needs to be clear and that each First Nation and Metis council should decide on their own nominations.
A resolution about the elders' council was tabled until the next leadership meeting.
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