DEH GAH GOT'IE KOE/FORT PROVIDENCE
The future of the Deh Cho as it's being laid out in the Dehcho Process was once again a dominant topic as the region's First Nations and Metis leaders met.

With elder Gabe Hardisty sitting beside him, Chief Tim Lennie of Pehdzeh Ki First Nation, left, addresses the Dehcho First Nations' winter leadership meeting in Fort Providence on Feb. 6. - Roxanna Thompson/NNSL photo

The Dehcho First Nations' (DFN) winter leadership meeting was held in Fort Providence from Feb. 4 to 6. The Dehcho Process was the focus of discussion on Wednesday night and through half of Thursday.

Georges Erasmus, DFN's chief negotiator, used a rolling draft of the agreement in principal to point out the progress that has been made during negotiations. Seventeen of the 50 chapters are complete or near completion. There are eight chapters, however, including the one on the Dehcho Resource Management Authority, that don't even have text in the rolling draft yet.

The issue of resource management is one that DFN and the federal government still have diametrically opposed views on, said Erasmus. DFN wants proposed developments to go through its own authority, while Canada wants the Mackenzie Valley Land and Water Board to retain that responsibility, he said.

"We have such a difference of opinion on it," said Erasmus.

Chief Tim Lennie commented on how after years of negotiations there are so few chapters completed.

"It's taken awhile," said Erasmus.

There are some minor areas left to negotiate, but there are also major ones like resource management and the land quantum Canada is offering. Sometimes the difference lies between DFN and the territorial government, like in the case of jurisdiction over wildlife, which the GNWT wants to keep, Erasmus said.

"Every time we meet we are moving it forward," he said.

"Yeah, I understand it is slow."

Working on the Dehcho Process can be tedious, said DFN Grand Chief Herb Norwegian.

"Every aspect is being examined by chiefs and elders," he said.

Each piece has to be looked at to make sure there is a solid, transparent government in the Deh Cho, Norwegian said.

One topic that the negotiating team wanted direction on is the Dehcho regional and community governments. The leadership had previously directed that it should be a public government based on Deh Cho values and beliefs that would incorporate the existing municipal governments so there is only one government in each community, Erasmus said.

Erasmus presented one option of what a future community government would look like. It would include a chief who must be a Dehcho citizen, four seats that are reserved for Dehcho citizens and another four that are open for any eligible resident, including Dehcho citizens.

The eligibility criteria for being a Dehcho citizen are laid out in the draft and they include being a Dehcho Dene or an ordinary resident of the Deh Cho settlement area who is accepted as a citizen under the community acceptance process that will be part of the Dehcho constitution. The residency requirement hasn't been set yet. The territorial and federal governments are asking for two years living in the region, while DFN has said five, Erasmus said.

Chief Stan Sanguez of Jean Marie River First Nation raised concerns about having eight council members in a small community like his. The First Nation currently has six.

"It works for us that way," he said.

The draft includes a provision that allows communities to have different numbers of councillors based on their population including six for less than 500 people, said Erasmus.

Erasmus also outlined two possible scenarios for the regional government. In each scenario there is a grand chief who will always be a Dehcho citizen.

Options for the other representatives include giving Fort Simpson four, two seats for Dehcho citizens and two for any eligible resident, and then grouping the other communities in two constituencies, which would have four seats a piece, following the same citizen and resident division.

The other option is to have 16 seats, again divided in half for citizens and all residents, elected from each community.

Erasmus said the guaranteed seats for Dehcho citizens ensure that no matter how many non-Dene people live in the region, the First Nations and Metis will never be outnumbered in the governments.

"Why should you let other people govern your territory when you can govern it yourself," he asked.

The governments will be funded by taxes, GST and royalty payments collected in the area, as well as a federal government funding formula.

Chief Minnie Letcher of Liidlii Kue First Nation in Fort Simpson questioned how the government will be sustained if areas aren't opened up for resource development and if oil and gas or diamonds aren't found. That needs to be looked at, she said. The leaders also passed a number of resolutions on the final day of the meeting dealing with a number of topics.