DEH CHO
New faces in government could usher in a new era for outstanding land claims processes in the Northwest Territories - at least, that's the hope of Nahendeh MLA Shane Thompson.

Fort Simpson utility clerk Amanda Burrill and Mayor Darlene Sibbeston share a smile during a regular council meeting on Jan. 4. - April Hudson/NNSL photo

Thompson, who was elected to his first term Oct. 19, sees the ongoing Dehcho Process negotiations and Acho Dene Process as two items to be prioritized in 2016.

"I honestly believe that if everyone is willing to work, we can have (those) resolved in this term," Thompson said during a year-end interview in late December.

"I want a fair shake. I don't think the government gave a fair deal to the Dehcho Process or Acho Dene Process."

On Dec. 16, when given an opportunity to answer questions during the premier election process in the legislative assembly, Premier Bob McLeod committed to a new deal for Dehcho First Nations within 90 days and to back the Dehcho First Nations in its bid for a larger quantum of land.

He also promised a joint committee on land claims to oversee negotiations.

That committee, Thompson said, will be made up of two cabinet ministers and two non-cabinet members of legislature.

"The government needs to step it up, it needs to be fair, and the minimum to me that is acceptable is what the Tlicho got," Thompson said

"(Premier McLeod) made a personal commitment to me, to Grand Chief Herb Norwegian and I believe to Dehcho MLA Michael Nadli, that he will be fair in that process."

Norwegian could not comment by press time but said in a Dec. 11 open letter to premier candidates McLeod and Glen Abernethy the draft agreement-in-principle between the GNWT, federal government and Dehcho First Nations is 90 per cent done.

He added that land and resource issues remain as a wedge between the parties.

"The Dehcho is optimistic with the new legislative assembly and ask the new government to withdraw its previous land offers and come to the negotiating table prepared to resolve the differences on land rights," Norwegian stated.

He also asked for the territory's support in negotiating directly with Canada.

Thompson said the election of the Liberal government federally gives negotiators more to work with and could bring an end to the approach the GNWT took last year on Dehcho Process negotiations. That approach led to allegations of bad-faith negotiations and a breakdown of the process.

"Politics being politics, the government was trying to play the Progressive Conservative approach ... and the Dehcho First Nations and Acho Dene Koe First Nation ended up without an alternative," Thompson said.

"Now, with a new Liberal government and their willingness to fix the wrongs that have been imposed on aboriginal people of Canada, the Dehcho Process and Acho Dene Process has an ally."

Although Thompson is supporting the current negotiation process, which is primarily between the Dehcho and the territorial government, he said if the groups fail to break their impasse he would support negotiating directly with the federal government.

In regard to the territorial government's new cabinet and premier, Thompson expressed concern over the fact small communities have no representation.

With 12 of 19 seats in four communities, that leaves seven MLAs representing the other 29 communities in the NWT, with none of them on cabinet.

"These people need to understand that they may have the seats but the voices of these small communities still needs to be heard," Thompson said.

"One of the questions that's going to be asked of the premier is, is he willing to set up a committee where small communities can have a say?"

Both Thompson and Nadli had expressed interest in a cabinet position, but both were unsuccessful in a decision Thompson called "disappointing." However, Thompson sees the silver lining as well.

"Was I disappointed? Yes. But things happen for a reason. When I came back home, 80 per cent of the people I spoke to were sad I didn't get (the seat) but happy I didn't because they prefer someone on the other side asking hard questions," he said.

"I'm moving on. I honestly hope it isn't going to be detrimental to what we're trying to achieve but only time will tell."

Deh Cho MLA Michael Nadli could not be reached for an interview.

While the territory looks to settle land claims, the Village of Fort Simpson is focusing on new projects to bolster its recreation sector.

The village's recently approved capital budget includes a new fitness facility near the pool, which is budgeted to cost $1 million.

"We're going to focus on youth initiatives in the coming year, because when we all ran that was a huge concern for a lot of us," said Mayor Darlene Sibbeston.

A second recreation project is the ski hill. Sibbeston said recreation co-ordinator Nathan McPherson has already submitted a proposal to complete a second portion of that hill.

"With that, I'm thinking it needs to be a community initiative. We need (the) entire community to be involved," she said.

Aside from recreation, big-ticket items for 2016 include preventative maintenance to existing buildings. That means upgrades to the recreation centre's heating systems, to the public works garage and to the water treatment plant.

Sibbeston said the village has also submitted papers for solar panels through the Arctic Energy Alliance. The village has suggested three potential buildings for that: the sewage treatment plant, water treatment plant or recreation centre. The choice is up to the Arctic Energy Alliance.

"I don't think the sewage treatment plant will work because you have such high spikes in power and then it goes down, whereas the other two are more even across the board," Sibbeston said.

"It really is exciting because a huge portion of our budget goes to power every year."

A balanced budget was passed by council on Jan. 4 and still needs to be reviewed by the Department of Municipal and Community Affairs.