Business talks get off the ground
Forum in Fort Simpson draws crowd to discuss Deh Cho's economic future
April Hudson
Northern News Services
Thursday, March 30, 2017
LIIDLII KUE/FORT SIMPSON
The economic future of the region is taking centre stage among dozens of delegates and community members crowded into Fort Simpson's recreation centre for the Dehcho Economic Readiness Forum.
Tim Lennie, left, and Liidlii Kue First Nation Chief Jerry Antoine took part in a drum song to open the forum. - April Hudson/NNSL photo
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"We've gathered to discuss opportunities and most of all to put things in place for the youth and those who are still coming," said Tim Lennie, a delegate and former chief of Pehdzeh Ki First Nation on March 28, the first full day of the event.
"(We want) to come into an understanding, as a people - (have) one plan so our people can benefit on the opportunities within the Deh Cho."
The forum, scheduled to run from March 27 to 30, opened with a meet-and-greet on the evening of March 27. The following morning, delegates gathered for keynote speakers and a discussion of the state of the Deh Cho economy.
Greg Nyuli, the executive assistant to Dehcho First Nations Grand Chief Herb Norwegian, led the meeting alongside Eric Menicoche.
Nyuli said the forum came about as a result of a motion by Liidlii Kue First Nation Chief Jerry Antoine, and was unanimously passed by leaders in the Deh Cho.
"It's about 14 months in the making, and it's great to be here," he said.
"We've got a good mix of community members, a good cross-section of government and business leaders, and we're hoping this will create some good information and dialogue and that we'll come out of this with three or four good opportunities to pursue further."
Opening the conference, Antoine and Norwegian gave a history of how the economy of the Deh Cho region developed from when it was first introduced to the fur industry until present day.
Norwegian said the economic conference is the third one that has been held in the Deh Cho in the past 10 years.
He added he hopes delegates will be able to listen and learn from the presenters scheduled to speak.
The economic future of the Deh Cho region, he added, will be built off the eventual resolution of the Dehcho Process land claim negotiations.
"In the meantime, what we need to do is get people excited (and) mobilized, and bring them together to have a good discussion about what lies in the future," he said.
"The future is always a challenge. If we get a good negotiated claim... we will have certainty once and for all."
