LIIDLII KUE/FORT SIMPSON
If territorial candidates in the Nahendeh riding had any doubt about who they are running to represent, that doubt was wiped clean the evening of Nov. 19.

More than 50 community members in Fort Simpson turned out for an all-candidates forum hosted by Dehcho First Nations, during which they were reminded by Grand Chief Herb Norwegian, former Liidlii Kue First Nation sub-chief Steven Jose and other residents to focus on the people.

All seven candidates, including Arnold Hope, Randy Sibbeston, Dennis Nelner, Deneze Nakehk'o, Shane Thompson, Rosemary Gill and Kevin Menicoche, attended the forum.

Norwegian, speaking on behalf of Dehcho First Nations, opened the evening with a history lesson into the ongoing Dehcho Process, the topic which served as the main thrust of questioning for the evening.

"The question of land ownership needs to be resolved," Norwegian said. "We want to find out what (the candidates) can do to get the Dehcho Process moving at a rapid pace again.

Forum moderator Jonathan Tsetso posed three questions to the candidates. The first asked whether they supported a negotiation process directly with the federal government, where the GNWT would be just an observer.

While all candidates agreed that treaties signed between the Crown and Dehcho First Nations should be negotiated between the two parties, they varied on opinions for how much the GNWT should be involved.

Thompson said while negotiations should be between Canada and the Dehcho, the GNWT and Dehcho First Nations would need to resolve how to manage Dehcho lands.

Nelner called for a return to good-faith negotiations on the part of the territorial government, while Hope promised to urge Dehcho First Nations to "vigorously lobby the (new) federal government to go back to direct negotiations."

A second question focused on candidates' opinions regarding Dehcho First Nations' desire for 50,000 square kilometres of surface and subsurface lands, as well as joint management of the rest of their traditional territory, which Norwegian estimated to be about 200,000 square kilometres in total.

Again, all candidates agreed to support Dehcho First Nations, with most of them comparing the process to Tlicho's and adding that the Dehcho Process should result in nothing less than the Tlicho received.

The third question, asking whether candidates agreed the Dehcho Process should result in the Dehcho government being recognized as the primary government for the region, also received all answers affirmative.

Norwegian thanked candidates for "open and bold" answers.

"Whoever (wins) ... remember that you come from here and the people are still the boss," he said. "We will all be behind whoever gets elected. Whoever gets in is going to have a really big job."

Community members took advantage of a question-and-answer period after discussion of the Dehcho Process ended, lining up four to five deep to wait their turns.

Questions focused on infrastructure, economic development and programming for youth, among others.

Grade 5 student Lydia Nelner, who is the daughter of candidate Dennis Nelner, joined the lineup to ask candidates what they plan to do for children in the Nahendeh.

After the forum, Lydia said she was happy with the answers she received, which ranged from cultural initiatives to track and field support.

"I really wanted to know what they would do for children, instead of for adults and animals," Lydia said.

She added that she personally would like to see a track and field facility developed in Fort Simpson.

Former Liidlii Kue First Nation sub-chief Steven Jose added his voice to the mix, calling out the various governments within the Nahendeh riding for making decisions based on favouritism, and reminded candidates of the importance of preserving Dene culture.

"Our people must come first," Jose said.

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