Step closer to self-government
Sahtu MLA Yakeleya heralds the start of a 'whole new era' in Deline
Stewart Burnett
Northern News Services
Monday, March 16, 2015
DELINE/FORT FRANKLIN
A decades-long journey for the community of Deline to realize its own local government is reaching the finish line.
Third reading for the Deline Self Government Agreement Act passed in the legislative assembly March 4, meaning only federal approval is needed for the Sahtu community to offer its own made-in-Deline programming such as education, health, adoption, tourism initiatives, income support and housing.
"It means a whole new era of governing their lives," said Sahtu MLA Norman Yakeleya.
Deline has long claimed to be the birthplace of ice hockey, and Yakeleya says it will be adding the birthplace of community self-government to that.
"They’ll have the ability to take on new powers in their community as far as local land use planning, additional programs and services, aboriginal medicine, language and culture, traditional health services," said Yakeleya about the practical differences people of Deline will experience under the new Deline Go'tine Government.
"They have the ability to tax their own people."
The act moved through legislative assembly after Deline First Nation’s 696 members voted last March move ahead with self-government.
In promotional material posted on Our Deline – the First Nation’s website for the initiative – chief negotiator Danny Gaudet explained how it is a combined public and aboriginal system.
"Our leaders wanted to make sure that aboriginal component of governance within the community is very strong," he said. "In order to do that we’ve had to create a government that is predominantly aboriginal in its representation."
For years, he said, the people of Deline have had to live within modern society’s rules and regulations.
"We’ve lost almost our entire identity," said Gaudet. "We want to be able to strengthen that again. The only way you can strengthen that is if your traditions, customs and beliefs are front and centre when it comes to legislation."
Yakeleya said the complexity of the deal and the fact Deline has been working with multiple forms of government over the years slowed down the process, but the community’s persistence has brought it to this point.
The Deline Go'tine Government will still receive federal and territorial funding under the new deal.
Yakeleya hopes for federal approval by summer this year.
"I think it’s a very unique trend," said Yakeleya when asked if the idea might spread to other communities.
"Community self-governance is a real testimony to the elders’ vision and advice and that’s something that the territorial government may or may not like to see elsewhere."
He said the elders and prophets of Deline contributed a lot to this self-government agreement and that they deserve thanks and appreciation.
Premier Bob McLeod, Deline First Nation Chief Leonard Kenny, Sahtu MLA Norman Yakeleya and others will be in Deline Monday to celebrate the agreement with a signing ceremony.
