Akaitcho seek GNWT court challenge
Unanimous resolution passed at 22nd annual gathering
Cody Punter
Northern News Services
Published Monday, July 14, 2014
DETTAH
Members from four Treaty 8 First Nations gave their leadership a mandate to take the GNWT to court over its enforcement of the NWT Wildlife Act at the 22nd-annual Akaitcho Assembly in Dettah at the Chief Drygeese centre last week.
Lustel K'e Chief Felix Lockhart reviews draft resolutions before they are voted on at the 22nd Akaitcho General Assembly. - Cody Punter/NNSL photo |
On July 10, the last day of the assembly, Akaitcho delegates voted unanimously in favour of a resolution to take the GNWT to the Supreme Court, citing resentment over charges laid by wildlife officers against its members.
"These are precedent-setting cases. We have to set a precedent now," said Ndilo Chief Ernest Betsina.
"We cannot let the GNWT roll over us and charge our members."
Over the course of the three-day assembly, members, delegates and chiefs discussed several pressing issues with hunting, fishing and foresting rights occupying the centre stage.
On July 9, Environment and Natural Resources Minister Michael Miltenberger attended the Chief Drygeese Centre to talk about traditional rights and some of the things the GNWT was doing to protect them.
According to Dettah Chief Ed Sangris, Miltenberger repeated that the government would work with the Akaitcho several times. However, Sangris said he felt Miltenberger was vague on exactly what that relationship should look like.
"He didn't really answer any specific questions," said Sangris.
Although the GNWT recently began partnering with aboriginal communities to help them monitor harvesting practices, Sangris said it hasn't yielded any tangible benefits. He also pointed to ongoing court cases involving former chiefs Ted Tsetta and Fred Sangris as ill will on the part of the GNWT.
"I told (Miltenberger) I don't want to develop a relationship in court," he said. "I think the government is just trying to have power over the treaties."
Miltenberger did not respond to a request for comment by press time.
The assembly also passed a resolution demanding the GNWT reverse Bill 18, which was passed earlier this spring and amended the territory's electoral boundaries. Among other things, the bill amalgamated Dettah and Ndilo into a new riding with Lutsel K'e and Fort Resolution.
Akaitcho members at the assembly voiced concerns over the language differences, as Lutsel K'e residents speak Chipewyan while Yellowknives Dene speak Tlicho, also known as Dogrib. As the Chipewyan communities have smaller populations, the risk is that Chipewyan speakers will effectively be removed from the legislature.
"We don't want to change what we have now. It's working, so why change something that's not broken?" Betsina asked.
The assembly also passed resolutions to ban fracking and uranium exploration in Akaitcho territory, as well as a resolution to engage with Tlicho and Dehcho governments on protecting Whitebeach Point as a cultural site for First Nations.
Next year's general assembly is set to be held in Lutsel K'e.
