Debates of February 18, 2005 (day 39)

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, my question today is to the Minister of MACA. Mr. Speaker, in the past 30 years, the concept of selling past dreams and lands in the Northwest Territories has been introduced by the federal government. Today, Mr. Speaker, we have made some progress. The Tlicho people have proven this over the last couple of weeks. My question to the Minister of MACA is what is his department doing in terms of protecting the aboriginal rights and claims within the areas that haven’t been settled yet? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Yakeleya. The honourable Minister of Municipal and Community Affairs, Mr. McLeod.

Return To Question 427-15(3): Protection Of Aboriginal Rights Within Municipal Boundaries

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, as the Department of Municipal and Community Affairs, we are at the negotiating tables with a number of different aboriginal governments, but our role is to provide technical support and technical information to the Department of Aboriginal Affairs. Following the discussions with aboriginal groups -- the negotiations -- interim measures agreements have been signed in a number of areas where there are unsettled claims. We are bound in the area of land applications to follow this process. That is the extent of our role to provide mostly support and also to carry out the terms of the interim measures agreement. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. McLeod. Supplementary, Mr. Yakeleya.

Supplementary To Question 427-15(3): Protection Of Aboriginal Rights Within Municipal Boundaries

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, land within the municipalities such as the….We settled in the Sahtu. There was a lot of land within the hamlet boundaries that had a lot of interest and was claimed by our own people. These lands were distributed among the GNWT, the federal government and the aboriginal people. I would like to ask the Minister if he states that this interim measures agreement will stay in place until the settlement within the areas that haven’t yet been settled by the aboriginal people. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Yakeleya. Mr. McLeod.

Further Return To Question 427-15(3): Protection Of Aboriginal Rights Within Municipal Boundaries

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, that is correct; the interim measures agreements are in place until the land claims are settled or unless there is a requirement for an amendment. It would require agreement from all parties to make any changes, but where we are failing any requirements for change, the agreements are there until the negotiations are concluded. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. McLeod. Supplementary, Mr. Yakeleya.

Supplementary To Question 427-15(3): Protection Of Aboriginal Rights Within Municipal Boundaries

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I want to allude to the question on the access granted to the Yellowknives Dene in the municipality of the city of Yellowknife and that clarification. I would ask the Minister. This is only access to a certain parcel of land within the city. Is that correct? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Yakeleya. Mr. McLeod.

Further Return To Question 427-15(3): Protection Of Aboriginal Rights Within Municipal Boundaries

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, the Member is correct. This is a response to a request to do some geotechnical and survey work in the area, some soil sampling. This was not really an issue that arose from the negotiating table. It is not part of the negotiating process. It was something that came to me, as the Minister of MACA, as a result of this land being Commissioner’s land. It is in my authority to grant access. That request came forward. It was not a request for a lease or to purchase the property. So we thought it was in our best interest to work with the Yellowknives Dene, and we did provide them with permission to access. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. McLeod. Final supplementary, Mr. Yakeleya.

Supplementary To Question 427-15(3): Protection Of Aboriginal Rights Within Municipal Boundaries

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, the interim measures agreements forced the sandpits or something that the Yellowknives Dene want to have. There is a process in terms of resolving that within the interim measures agreement. Is that the process that this will take in terms of further interest by the Yellowknives Dene in terms of the sandpits? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Yakeleya. Mr. McLeod.

Further Return To Question 427-15(3): Protection Of Aboriginal Rights Within Municipal Boundaries

Mr. Speaker, I guess there are two avenues where an aboriginal group such as the Yellowknives Dene can access land. There is the formal process of applying through the city, which would come to us for review. Depending if it is an application for lease or for fee-simple title, we would be dealing with it at the end of the day. There is the other process of the aboriginal groups that are in negotiations to come forward as part of their land identification to identify this area. However, that does not give them an automatic transfer. It would have to be an area that would have to be negotiated at the negotiating table. In the case of the Yellowknives Dene, they are not at that level yet. They are not at that point where they are sitting down and selecting land or going through a land selection process. My understanding is that they have done some early work in identifying some areas of interest to them. They are talking to the city about these areas. I am sure these maps and stuff will come forward to us. However, we haven’t seen that at this point. We have had some early discussions around that, but the ability to access this land through the negotiation table at this point for the sandpits is actually premature. Thank you.