Land-claim negotiation talks spreading throughout region
Anne Marie Doyle, ministerial special representative on Dehcho Process, visits communities to hear concerns
April Hudson
Northern News Services
Thursday, December 1, 2016
LIIDLII KUE/FORT SIMPSON
Frustration with the slow movement of the Dehcho Process, the perception that the GNWT has interfered in negotiations and still-fresh pain over the historic treatment of Canada's aboriginal people permeated a meeting on Nov. 22.
Ministerial special representative Anne Marie Doyle, left, took meticulous notes during the meeting. Beside her is Keyna Norwegian, officiating the meeting. - April Hudson/NNSL photos
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The meeting, an open forum between members of Liidlii Kue First Nation and Fort Simpson Metis Nation as well as ministerial special representative Anne Marie Doyle and federal assistant negotiator Clarissa Richardson, was part of Doyle's mandate to meet with every band in the Deh Cho.
The mission? To understand their individual perspectives on Dehcho Process negotiations and report back to the territorial and federal governments.
On Nov. 22, Doyle said her report will inform the next actions of the GNWT and the federal Department of Indigenous and Northern Affairs.
"The (federal) minister . and the premier have both come to the conclusion that maybe the time is right for an agreement," Doyle said.
"To that end, they have suggested that they might be willing to respond to what has been a fairly consistent request in recent years for the federal negotiating team and the territorial negotiating team to get new mandates for the negotiations."
In order for that to happen, Doyle said, they need to make a case to their respective governments that a new mandate would lead to a "successful result."
Reached by e-mail, GNWT senior cabinet communications advisor Andrew Livingstone stated Premier Bob McLeod couldn't comment on Doyle's remarks until after she has completed her report.
Dehcho First Nations Chief Herb Norwegian said the territorial government's seat at the negotiating table has complicated negotiations.
Norwegian said Dehcho First Nations wants to see the federal government resume a leading role in the negotiations.
"The big problem is when you have a government like the territorial government sitting at the table and arguing aggressively that they are the landowner, that complicates things," Norwegian said, noting the GNWT's "hardline" position that nearly shut down negotiations altogether in early 2015.
"What we need to do, and what Canada needs to do, is we need to tell the territorial government to back off," Norwegian said.
Additionally, Norwegian wants to see a modernization of the land quantum offer from the territorial and federal governments.
The land offer can no longer rely on population numbers from decades ago, he said. Holding up the example of Tlicho's land agreement as an example, he said by using the same formula Dehcho First Nations should be receiving an offer of around 44,000 square kilometres.
"This is rightfully ours," he said. "We will continue to stand firm."
Doyle's report is expected to be completed in January.
