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Feds pick facilitator for land claim talks
Ndilo chief says government appears serious

John McFadden
Northern News Services
Friday, July 22, 2016

SOMBA K'E/YELLOWKNIFE
The chief of Ndilo expressed cautious optimism that the appointment by the federal government of a ministerial special representative will help kick-start self-government and treaty negotiations with the Akaitcho Dene.

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Carolyn Bennett, the minister for Indigenous and Northern Affairs, speaks at a news conference held at the Explorer Hotel on Tuesday. Bennett has appointed ministerial representatives to help speed up self-government and land claim negotiations. - John McFadden/NNSL photo

Ernest Betsina said he has never personally met Thomas Isaac, the man named to the post on Tuesday by Indigenous and Northern Affairs Minister Carolyn Bennett and Premier Bob McLeod. But he said his hiring seems like a logical next step in the ongoing process.

"I look forward to working with Mr. Isaac. I certainly hope this process will help speed up the negotiations," said Betsina. "He will report directly to the minister and the premier so there will be a direct connection. It is a good move on their part so that negotiations will run more smoothly than before."

Betsina said he has only been part of the negotiations since he became chief of Ndilo three years ago but pointed out the negotiations have been ongoing for more than 20 years. Isaac has also been brought on board to help with similar negotiations with the NWT Metis Nation.

The Akaitcho includes Ndilo, Dettah, Lutsel K'e and Deninu Ku'e. They are all signatories to Treaty 8 which was signed in 1900.

According to his biography, Isaac is a nationally recognized authority in the area of aboriginal law. The Toronto-based lawyer has experience advising energy, oil, gas, pipeline mining and forestry companies, lenders and investors as well as several levels of government on aboriginal and environmental matters.

Isaac was also the NWT's assistant deputy minister responsible for establishing Nunavut in 1999.

At the same time Isaac's appointment was announced, Bennett named Anne Marie Doyle to the same position in negotiations with the Dehcho First Nations, known as the Dehcho Process. Both Isaac and Doyle are to report back to the minister and the premier in December. There are 10 indigenous groups representing more than 20 communities in the NWT that are currently negotiating land claims or self-government agreements. They are at various stages in the process.

"Our government is committed to advancing treaty and self-government negotiations in genuine partnership with the Akaitcho Dene First (Nations) and the NWT Metis Nation on a nation-to-nation basis," said Bennett at a news conference at the Explorer Hotel on Tuesday.

"The successful conclusion of these agreements will support quality of life and self-determination for these communities."

Bennett also addressed the issue of former Ndilo chief Ted Tsetta, who is before the courts, charged by the territorial government with illegal caribou hunting in the Tlicho region without a tag. With the backing of the Dene Nation, Tsetta is filing a constitutional challenge to the charge, essentially stating the GNWT does not have jurisdiction over aboriginal hunting and fishing rights.

"It is always a matter of us sorting out jurisdiction. Things are ... always more complex in the North than in the south," Bennett said. "We don't want people to feel that they have to go to court if it's something we can sort out in a fair way."

Bennett also spoke about the delay in getting an inquiry into missing and murdered indigenous women up and running.

"We had hoped to make an announcement by the end of June, then hoped ... that it would by July 6," Bennett said. "We think we are almost there. Our department will be in touch with the (victims') families as soon as we can make sure that we've got the right date."

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