Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Earlier I spoke about the status of the Hay River Reserve within the Northwest Territories. So my question is to the Minister of Aboriginal Affairs. What is this government’s role in the K’atlodeeche First Nation negotiations with the federal government? Mahsi.
Thank you, Mr. Nadli. The honourable Premier, Mr. McLeod.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The Government of the Northwest Territories is a party, along with Canada, to the negotiations with the K’atlodeeche First Nations. Thank you.
Thank you. I’d like to thank the Minister for his response. How is this government’s role different than it has been with communities when there’s no reserve? Thank you.
Our government’s role is different, depending on what process is being negotiated. If the K’atlodeeche First Nation decides to go through the treaty land entitlement process or whether it chooses to go through the comprehensive community-based agreement process, those would be two different approaches. Through the treaty land entitlement process, the federal government is solely responsible for Indians on reserves. Thank you.
I thank the Minister once again. Could the Minister distinguish for this House on the differences regarding the community comprehensive-based land claim versus comprehensive claims? Mahsi.
Thank you. The differences are that treaty land entitlements are built through the treaty process. So on that basis, it specifies what the Hay River Reserve or K’atlodeeche First Nation would be entitled to through that process. With regard to the comprehensive community-based process, it’s more of negotiating of a modern land claims treaty for that community. Thank you.
Thank you, Mr. Premier. Final supplementary, Mr. Nadli.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. How is this government ensuring that in developing the Wildlife Act, that Aboriginal treaty rights of the K’atlodeeche First Nations will be respected? Mahsi.
As an extension of the comprehensive community-based agreement, the portion that would be negotiated for K’atlodeeche First Nation would be hived off of the larger Deh Cho process.
With regard to the Wildlife Act, the process that we have in place is there’s a seat at the table for the Dehcho First Nations and the K’atlodeeche First Nation, as I understand it, are part of that process. If they choose not to be part of that process, then there are a number of other avenues that are available to participate in the Wildlife Act process. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Mr. Premier. The honourable Member for Yellowknife Centre, Mr. Hawkins.
