Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. Earlier today I spoke about the Dehcho and their seemingly stalled talks with the GNWT. I guess what it’s all about is since the onset of devolution, GNWT, of course, takes more of a lead only because now we have the lands in question. So, maybe I’ll ask the Minister of Aboriginal Affairs about our new role in negotiating with the Dehcho First Nations? Previous to this we were leaning heavily on Canada. I’d like to know how much weight we have as the GNWT negotiating with the Dehcho First Nations. Mahsi cho.
Thank you, Mr. Menicoche. The honourable Premier, Mr. McLeod.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The land claims negotiation process with Dehcho First Nations involves three parties: the Dehcho First Nations, the Government of Canada and the Government of the Northwest Territories. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Certainly, the three parties have invested over 30 years of hard negotiating time. I was getting at that I think the GNWT is taking a more important role. In fact, Mr. Premier met with the Dehcho leadership around two weeks ago, and they left that meeting somewhat disheartened. They thought they were there to speak with the Premier at that time that we hosted the meeting and find some more common ground. They want to complete the negotiations and fulfill their aspirations for self-government.
I’d like to ask the Minister of Aboriginal Affairs once again, how much weight does the GNWT have in our negotiations since the onset of devolution? Thank you.
The Government of the Northwest Territories made a comprehensive offer to conclude the outstanding land and resource issues and a draft agreement-in-principle. The Government of the Northwest Territories offer included a land quantum of 37,500 square kilometres. This would result in the Dehcho First Nations having title to 37,500 square kilometres of land with surface title and approximately 17.78 percent interest in the subsurface of the entire Dehcho Settlement Area.
The Government of the Northwest Territories’ offer also included elements that would guide the completion of a Dehcho Land Use Plan, set out the structure and responsibilities of the Dehcho Resource Management Authority, set out the authorities of the Dehcho Government in relation to renewable resources and set out the process the parties would use during final agreement negotiations to identify settlement lands, finalize protected areas and update the Dehcho Land Use Plan. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
I’d like to thank the Minister for that response. Certainly, it almost sounds like a final offer. I guess what I’m in support of is we have to sit down with the Dehcho again. In fact, I think their latest asking is, geez, we’re 7,000 square kilometres apart. While mediation is never a popular way to go about it, I’d like to ask the Minister: What are his thoughts on getting mediation and getting back to the table, finding some more common ground, and let’s continue to move forward with our government and the Dehcho First Nations.
The Government of the Northwest Territories will continue to work in good faith with the representatives of the Dehcho First Nations Process. However, this can only be made with frank and honest conversations. This means that we must be able to lay out the extent of what we can do while still being fair to everyone. This is simply being honest and respectful. It is not being a bully or acting in a threatening manner.
Thank you, Mr. McLeod. Final, short supplementary, Mr. Menicoche.
Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. Certainly, I believe that we can continue to do it. We’ve got the power in this House. With devolution, we’re growing up, and I believe that we can find a way. I’ve indicated in my Member’s statement about how much I value Mr. Premier’s negotiating abilities, and I believe that he can find a way around it.
I guess one of the barriers for those additional 7,000 square kilometres is about the precept or the concept that your population base is based on figures from 30 years ago. I would like to ask the Minister of Aboriginal Affairs, can he revisit that or find a flexible way around that old population base in order that we can expand on the land quantum?
The whole premise and process of land claims negotiations is based on the Dene-Metis Comprehensive Claim from 20 years ago. It’s being fair to a process where we’ve seen four land claim and resources agreements settled based on populations from 20 years ago. For a party to wait 20 years to negotiate whose population increases, it means that there’s a difference between the settlements. That’s why both the Government of Canada and the Northwest Territories government are using the populations that were in place at the time of the draft Dene-Metis Comprehensive Claim 20 years ago. The population numbers from then are significantly different now. Obviously, the numbers are significantly higher now.
Thank you, Mr. McLeod. The Member for Deh Cho, Mr. Nadli.
