DEH CHO
With a negotiation session scheduled to begin Feb. 23, Dehcho First Nations has rounded out its team by hiring Garth Wallbridge as chief negotiator for the Dehcho Process.

Newly hired chief negotiator Garth Wallbridge was in Fort Simpson on Feb. 9 for a strategic and tactical planning workshop with Dehcho First Nations. He replaces George Erasmus, who retired mid-2015. - April Hudson/NNSL photo

Wallbridge, a Metis lawyer who runs a law firm in Yellowknife, joined Dehcho First Nations representatives in Fort Simpson on Feb. 9 for a strategic and tactical planning workshop to discuss the future of land claims negotiations, which he said would also give him an opportunity to meet his new team.

He replaces former chief negotiator Georges Erasmus, who retired in mid-2015.

Prior to the workshop, Wallbridge said he is looking forward to his upcoming role with the Dehcho Process.

"To be the chief negotiator on this claim is something that just excites me," he said.

"This is nation building that we're doing here with these land claims ... it's nation-to-nation we're talking about, the sovereignty of the people of the Deh Cho that is to be recognized in the final agreement."

Wallbridge's backgrounds includes work on land claims in Nunavut and the Tlicho. His past also includes a three-year stint as director of aboriginal relations for Northwestel and a short-term assignment as president and CEO of Deninu Kue Development Corporation.

He said it was his previous experience on land claims that sparked his interest in the position with Dehcho - that and the lure of working on a historic agreement.

"This is big, high-level stuff. Modern day land claims are a part of the Canadian constitution," he said. "I'm a lucky guy - there are very few of us lawyers in our careers who get to be involved in real constitutional development."

As for returning to the Deh Cho, where he spent some time over the past 25 years racing sled dogs, Wallbridge said he is looking forward to working with local indigenous people in a different kind of race - to the finish line of the Dehcho Process.

With a new federal face at the negotiating table thanks to the Liberal government's election win in 2015, Wallbridge said he is optimistic about the future of the land claim.

"They want it done. Everybody wants it done. The fact there's a new government, I think, bodes well," he said.

Dehcho First Nations Grand Chief Herb Norwegian said the Dehcho selected Wallbridge out of a pool of individuals interested in the land claim in order to "fill a void" in the organization.

"At first, we were going to advertise (the position) internally but the leadership decided this is a big enough issue, there's enough people out there that should understand what the Dehcho's all about - let's go test the waters and see who's out there," he said.

"Lo and behold, we attracted all kinds of professionals from all walks of life that were willing to make a contribution."

Norwegian said the first step before negotiations resume is for Wallbridge to get acquainted with Dehcho First Nations leadership. That was expected to happen during the workshop, which would also include time to discuss a plan of action.

"We're glad the negotiator would be on-hand to witness and be part of that discussion," Norwegian said.

Dehcho First Nations has yet to hear directly from the territorial government about a new land claim offer promised by Premier Bob McLeod but Norwegian said that is "in the works."

The strategic workshop was scheduled to run Feb. 9 to 11 and is open to members of the public.