DEH CHO
Dehcho First Nations wrapped up three days of discussion on the Dehcho Process on Feb. 11 with calls for Grand Chief Herb Norwegian to write a letter to Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and Indigenous and Northern Affairs Minister Carolyn Bennett.

Larry Innes oversaw the three-day workshop with Dehcho First Nations, facilitating discussion on how to move forward on what members identified as key issues. - April Hudson/NNSL photo

The plan is to ask them to pledge to a nation-to-nation relationship.

"We know this is an issue because ... although our government has said sunny-ways promises, they have not yet come out with a statement on what they're going to do differently," said lawyer Larry Innes.

"One of the things people have said needs to be done is there needs to be this commitment, in writing, from the governments."

That letter to Trudeau and Bennett could also include an invitation to the Dehcho Assembly. Norwegian confirmed the letter is being worked on.

In an interview with Deh Cho Drum just prior to the workshop, Norwegian said he has worked with Trudeau in the past on Nahanni National Park.

"We had a good rapport," he said.

"There might be a chance there to spark some interest and to just kick things up a notch here, move things forward."

The meeting hosted representatives from Jean Marie River First Nation, Sambaa K'e First Nation, Deh Gah Got'ie First Nation, Liidlii Kue First Nation, Metis groups from Fort Providence and Fort Simpson as well as other member nations at Fort Simpson's recreation centre.

The meeting was a strategic and tactical planning workshop and was facilitated by Innes, a partner at Olthuis, Kleer, Townshend LLP who practices in aboriginal rights and environmental law.

The workshop gave Dehcho First Nations leaders an opportunity to get acquainted with the Dehcho Process's new chief negotiator, Garth Wallbridge.

"Wallbridge said he was glad to have the opportunity to spend time with leaders, elders and youth from the Deh Cho to understand their perspective on the process. "Ultimately, what I heard was the majority of people in the region have an understanding of the Dehcho Process - and that includes an understanding that it is a very complex process," he said. "They are anxious to keep things moving forward and would like to see that there's an end in sight."

The workshop culminated in discussion on Feb. 11 to determine a plan of action for the Dehcho Process to move forward.

Much of that discussion focused on the need for unity within the Dehcho First Nations leading up to the annual summer Dehcho Assembly.

"Knowing what our key interests are, what it is we're trying to achieve - knowing very clearly what we want the other governments and other parties to agree to, but equally knowing what we'll do if the governments don't agree with us ... That's really the exercise of interest-based negotiations," said Innes during the meeting.

Innes led the group in drawing up a timeline for the coming months, including a section for the future after the Dehcho Assembly.

That, he said, would provide clarity on the First Nations' action plan and tasks that need to be accomplished.

The next round of negotiations is scheduled to begin Feb. 23.