TTHEK'EHDELI/JEAN MARIE RIVER
Jean Marie River is preparing to become the center of the Deh Cho for one week this summer.

Richard Sanguez chops wood for the fire in the arbour, one of the many tasks that kept staff in Jean Marie River busy during the Dehcho First Nations' annual assembly in June 2009. Jean Marie River is hosting the assembly again this summer. - NNSL file photo

The community has accepted a request by Dehcho First Nations (DFN) to host its annual assembly from June 23 to 27. Jean Marie River last hosted the assembly in 2009.

"We're getting all excited about it," said Chief Stan Sanguez of Jean Marie River First Nation.

"The last time we had it here, everybody liked it."

People enjoyed being able to travel to the assembly by boat, he said. Boats arrived from Fort Providence, Kakisa, Fort Simpson and Wrigley.

Planning has already begun for this year's assembly. Jean Marie River First Nation's council has appointed Ria Letcher, DFN's former executive director, to be their assembly co-ordinator. Letcher will also be mentoring community residents in the position.

Letcher and other Jean Marie River staff will be meeting with DFN staff to discuss how they want the assembly to unfold. Sanguez expects the event will boost local employment.

The First Nation will be using infrastructure money to clean-up the community and prepare it for the assembly. Wood will also be gathered for tent poles and firewood.

The First Nation had a new arbor built for the 2009 assembly, so the community doesn't need any additional major infrastructure for this assembly, Sanguez said.

"We did learn from the first one," he said.

One of the lessons was the difficultly of estimating how many people will attend the assembly. Residents from other Deh Cho communities often attend in addition to the delegates. The community expected this to happen in 2009 and still had extra food left over after feeding everyone, Sanguez said.

The community is being environmentally conscious in their planning and will be asking visitors to bring their own plates and cutlery for the meals. The First Nation is still debating whether the use of bottled water will be supported during the assembly.

The assembly is also about more than decision making. Because of the recent death of Arnold Gargan, the community didn't hold its Mudball Carnival this year.

Instead, the donations for prizes that Jean Marie River has received will be used to hold a talent show during the assembly that will include categories like singing and jigging. The event is expected to draw additional people to the community during the assembly.

"Don't be afraid to come out, come visit," Sanguez said.

Summer is the ideal time for Jean Marie River to host a meeting, he said. During the 2009 assembly, people camped all around the community, wherever they found a good spot. Sanguez expects the same to happen again this year.

Originally, Kakisa was scheduled to hold the 2014 assembly, but the community isn't ready, said Chief Lloyd Chicot of Ka'a'gee Tu First Nation. Kakisa may be ready next year after a community assembly building is constructed, he said.

Held in Kakisa for many years, DFN's annual assembly has been hosted in different communities recently including Fort Simpson, Wrigley, Fort Providence and the Hay River Reserve.