Hay River Reserve to host Dene assembly
National gathering expected to attract hundreds for discussion of issues - and fun
Paul Bickford
Northern News Services
Monday, May 1, 2017
K'ATLODEECHE/HAY RIVER RESERVE
For the first time in 11 years, the Dene National Assembly is coming to the Hay River Reserve – with organizers hoping for as many as 500 people to attend.
Bill Erasmus: No elections are scheduled at this year's assembly, says Dene national chief. - NNSL file photo |
The 47th version of the assembly will take place from July 17 to 21.
Chief Roy Fabian of K'atlodeeche First Nation (KFN) is pleased to see the assembly returning to the reserve.
"The KFN is really proud to host the assembly," he said, adding he hopes many Dene will visit for the gathering.
"And get a chance to talk about issues that are important to us as Dene people."
For example, Fabian said an issue to be raised by KFN is its desire to be directly funded by the federal government to provide services on the Hay River Reserve, instead of receiving services such as health, education and housing from the GNWT.
"Education is not working for Dene people," he said. "It's not completely true all across the board. There are some very successful communities. But in my community we have very few graduates. There are some, but in terms of our population representation, the dropout rates are pretty high. So education isn't working for us."
Fabian noted he recently wrote the Dene Nation on the funding issue.
Aside from the discussion of issues, a national assembly is an opportunity for the Dene people to gather as friends and members of extended families, and to participate in various cultural activities.
Fabian noted that the last time the Dene National Assembly was on the Hay River Reserve was in 2006, and before that in 1988.
This year's assembly had initially been set for the Tlicho, but it is in an election year and the Tlicho Government decided not to host the assembly to concentrate on the elections.
National Chief Bill Erasmus explained the assembly is rotated every year among the five regions that make up the Dene Nation.
Erasmus said the Tlicho Government has a complicated election system in which the early part of the summer involves nominations and then voting for community leaders, and later in the summer a grand chief is elected.
"After thinking it over, they thought there would be too much going on by taking on those elections and also planning for our assembly and so on," he said.
"So we've agreed to have the meeting in their territory next year."
That situation created an opportunity for the Hay River
Reserve to host the assembly because it is not necessarily part of the Deh Cho anymore, since it has its own negotiating process.
"They're kind of like an independent member," said Erasmus.
Going by the traditional rotation of the assembly among the five regions, the annual gathering would not get back to the Hay River Reserve.
"So it's kind of a good way of making sure we're still involved with the people on the reserve and they're still a part of the Dene Nation," said Erasmus, adding since it is on the road system it also provides easy accessibility.
"So it works out."
Fabian also explained that KFN is no longer part of the Deh Cho.
Fabian noted he has been calling on the Dene Nation to change its constitution to allow KFN to be represented on the executive committee, which now has representatives from the five regions.
The KFN chief said he hopes that will be one of the issues discussed at the national assembly.
Each region and community can raise their own issues in community reports and they can also propose resolutions.
Erasmus pointed out that the theme of the national assembly is upholding and protecting the Dene's rights and interests.
"So it will be talking about governance, the best way to have agreements in place to protect the interests of our people," he said.
Erasmus said another item for discussion will the 2017 federal budget.
"People are intrigued about it, for example, because this year there's something like $63 million being set aside for traditional knowledge," he noted. "So how do we get access to that kind of funding and how do we use that to support our communities and our regions?"
Fabian noted that in 2006, between 400 to 500 people attended the national assembly on the Hay River Reserve.
This year, he said there might be around 500, which will create an economic boost for the reserve.
Erasmus said a national assembly normally has anywhere from 150 to 200 delegates.
"You'll have delegates, but you'll also have people for the social activities and to be part of the meeting itself," he said. "So I think it's easy to say there'll be an influx of approximately 500 people coming into Hay River, in that area."
Erasmus said Perry Bellegarde, the grand chief of the Assembly of First Nations, is expected to attend.
