Sidelines not the place to be
Jim Antoine tried to get Deh Cho to devolution table
Chris Puglia
Northern News Services
Published Monday, March 31, 2014
NORTHWEST TERRITORIES
Jim Antoine served as the premier of the Northwest Territories during one its most significant developments in our history - division.
Midway through 1998, Antoine replaced Don Morin, who resigned as premier due to conflict of interest allegations.
In the 13 months Antoine served as premier, the GNWT put the finishing touches on the agreement that divided Nunavut from the NWT effective April 1, 1999, removing a major obstacle to progress toward the present devolution agreement.
In 2009, Antoine made a return to First Nations leadership when he ran and won his fourth stint as chief of the Liidlii Kue First Nation.
While opposed to aspects of the Devolution-Agreement-in-Principle, Antoine advocated for the Deh Cho First Nations to be involved in the process.
In 2011, the DFN leadership rejected the agreement, publicly throwing barbs at targets such Premier Floyd Roland.
"I don't know how useful that's going to be," Antoine told Deh Cho leaders during DFN's winter leadership meeting in Fort Simpson.
Calling for co-operation, Antoine said it would be in DFN's best interest to be at the table, look the agreement over carefully, then judge if they can have meaningful involvement. That way DFN could ensure what it wants is in the final agreement.
Following the discussion, a resolution was passed stating DFN would review, analyze and strategize on the devolution agreement-in-principle but that the Dehcho Process must be completed.
To date the DFN has not signed onto devolution.
Editor's note: Jim Antoine did not return interview requests for this article.
