Negotiators want next N.W.T. MP to advance land claims
CBC
Dehcho Grand Chief Herb Norwegian says the N.W.T.'s future MP will need to "roll up their sleeves" with federal negotiators to bring unresolved land claims over the finish line.
Their biggest challenge?
Sparse and "slow" negotiations where time is spent reviewing minutes instead of advancing issues needing "immediate attention" like governance and resources, said Norwegian.
Dehcho's claim process has been ongoing for over 20 years and he says in one year they only negotiated for just 21 days.
"We're just being dragged down the damn road," he said, describing prolonged negotiations as an "ongoing trauma."
"After all, it's our land," he said.
The N.W.T. has three unresolved land claims affecting the Dehcho First Nations, Akaitcho Dene and the North Slave Métis.
Akaitcho Dene First Nations includes Yellowknives Dene, Łutsel K'e Dene and Deninu Kųę́ First Nations, who reached a draft agreement in 2023.
Twenty-two years into negotiations, Yellowknives Dene Ndilǫ Chief Fred Sangris said Akaitcho communities are "wordsmithing" with Ottawa lawyers under the Liberal government to clarify their rights.
"Under [UNDRIP] there is no need for any Indigenous group in the world to extinguish all their rights," he said.
"We don't want to have an agreement like other First Nations across Northwest Territories that have extinguished. Once you extinguish, you can't go back to the table and ask for anything else."
Federally, the Liberal, Green Party, and the New Democratic Party platforms support implementing UNDRIP.
On Tuesday Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre sidestepped questions on whether they would fully implement the law but the party's platform is to "get projects built again by repealing the Liberal anti-development laws."
Projects like the Mackenzie Valley Highway, which would pass through Dehcho communities, could change the face of the region and increase access to their lands.