Thank you, Madam Speaker. My questions today are to the Minister of Aboriginal Affairs, in terms of the…(inaudible)…towards a Devolution Final Agreement-in-Principle. My question is to the Minister. Can he provide us an update in terms of the progress of trying to bring other Aboriginal groups on stream? I know there have been efforts to try and engage with discussions with groups. Can he provide us an update? Mahsi.
Thank you, Mr. Nadli. The Minister responsible for Aboriginal Affairs and Intergovernmental Relations, Premier McLeod.
Thank you, Madam Speaker. To date we have three Aboriginal governments that have agreed to negotiate a Devolution Final Agreement with the Government of the Northwest Territories and the Government of Canada. We are in discussions with the Tlicho. We offered and we hosted a Dehcho leadership meeting which, unfortunately, we were unable to attend because of weather conditions. We have since agreed to continue talking on some matters that are important to both of our governments.
Similarly, we had an agreed upon meeting with the Akaitcho which was, unfortunately, cancelled because of the death of a respected elder. We are continuing. As a matter of fact, yesterday I had the opportunity to have a brief chat with the president of the Gwich’in Tribal Council. Thank you.
I’d like to thank the Premier for his update. My question is, in the fall we had a very goodwill attitude, good spirited discussion with the Aboriginal groups in Detah. I wanted to know if the Minister would build upon that positive relationship and perhaps consider a follow-up forum to ensure that we are fully engaged with all Aboriginal groups in the Northwest Territories. Mahsi.
I recall the Detah meeting with all seven Aboriginal government leaders and Caucus. I think everybody there felt it was a very productive meeting and there was general agreement that we would have a follow-up meeting. We have attempted to do so but we haven’t been able to get an indication of a critical mass of Aboriginal leaders in attendance.
As you indicated in your Member’s statement, we are now into the annual general meeting summer season, so we are quite prepared to meet, probably in the fall sometime.
Would the Minister tell this House whether there is, perhaps, an effort to try to consider all options as we move towards a final agreement-in-principle? That the Minister would consider trying to exhaust all options, other than the discussions that are currently being undertaken to ensure that everyone is on side before this and the agreement-in-principle are concluded on devolution. Mahsi.
As we’ve been across the North meeting with Aboriginal governments, we’ve had quite a wide range of responses in our attempt to find common ground ranging from get on with it, get the deal done, and in one case there’s been a court case. We’ve had the Sahtu sign on. We’re still in discussions with others. I think the fundamental issue is with regard to the fact that the Devolution Agreement, the AIP is based on recognition of modern land claims and treaties. When you talk to the Dehcho and the Akaitcho, there’s a fundamental problem for them because they don’t agree with the written version of the treaties and they believe that only the oral version of the treaties is the correct version. That’s something that is a reality and we would have to deal with. Thank you.
Thank you, Premier McLeod. The Member for Nahendeh, Mr. Menicoche.
