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Shaleen Woodward, assistant deputy minister of Aboriginal Affairs and Intergovernmental Affairs, left, looks on as Ernie McLeod, president of Fort Liard Metis Local #67, Chief Harry Deneron of Acho Dene Koe First Nation, Premier Bob McLeod and Nahendeh MLA Kevin Menicoche participate in a signing ceremony at the legislative assembly May 26. The Fort Liard Metis Local #67, Acho Dene Koe First Nation, Deninu K'ue First Nation and Salt River First Nation are now all parties of the Northwest Territories Devolution Agreement. - Simon Whitehouse/NNSL photo
Two Deh Cho groups join devolution
Acho Dene Koe First Nation and Fort Liard Metis participate in signing ceremony

Roxanna Thompson and Simon Whitehouse
Northern News Services
Published Thursday, May 29, 2014

SOMBA K'E/YELLOWKNIFE
Acho Dene Koe First Nation and the Fort Liard Metis Local #67 have signed onto the Northwest Territories Devolution Agreement.

President Ernie McLeod and Chief Harry Deneron respectively represented the two governments from Fort Liard at a signing ceremony at the legislative assembly in Yellowknife May 26. At the same ceremony, Deninu K'ue First Nation of Akaitcho Dene First Nation, and Salt River First Nation also became parties to the agreement.

The Dehcho First Nation and three other members of the Akaitcho Dene First Nation – Dettah, Ndilo and Lutsel K'e Dene First Nation – are now the only First Nations in the territory that haven't signed onto the agreement.

"Today is a great day to finally sign onto devolution that everyone is talking about," said Deneron, during the ceremony.

Devolution, Deneron said, is about resource development – something that Acho Dene Koe First Nation supports.

"Without any development on the land, you still have nothing," he said.

Through devolution, the First Nation can work with the territorial government and possibly do some early development, said Deneron.

In February, Acho Dene Koe First Nation and the Fort Liard Metis signed an agreement-in-principle with the territorial government on land claims and self-government. At the time, Deneron said the two groups were looking forward to signing onto devolution.

"Our government has said that we hope all aboriginal governments will join us on the devolution table," said Premier Bob McLeod Monday.

"Today's signing reflects that work and underlines our commitment to create effective Northern partnerships that will benefit all of our people."

The territorial government has committed to sharing up to 25 per cent of its portion of resource revenues with aboriginal governments that have signed onto devolution. The four groups that just signed on will now get a share of those revenues.

The other aboriginal groups that have signed onto devolution include the Inuvialuit Regional Corporation, NWT Metis Nation, Sahtu Secretariat Incorporated, Gwichi'in Tribal Council and the Tlicho government.

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