Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, in keeping in line with the GNWT’s goals for this Assembly here, I want to ask the Minister of Aboriginal Affairs the question on the issue of the land claims implementation on some of the agreements; specifically the Sahtu Land Claims Agreement under chapter 12 on the economic measures. I understand there was a similar agreement that was signed with the Gwich’in beneficiaries and I want to ask the Minister the status as to when the Sahtu beneficiaries can see some movement or progress in terms of having their agreement also implemented under that specific chapter. Mahsi, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Mr. Yakeleya. The honourable Minister of Aboriginal Affairs, Mr. Handley.
Return To Question 8-15(4): Sahtu Land Claim Implementation
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. There was a meeting that was held in November 2004, November 16th to 18th, to discuss a three-year economic measures review. The Sahtu chose not to attend that particular meeting. Since that time, the Sahtu and Gwich’in representatives met on December 8th to discuss economic measures. There was a further meeting held on April 19th of this year with a follow-up conference call on May 10th. So, Mr. Speaker, I think this issue is being followed through with the Sahtu through the number of meetings that are being held. Thank you.
Thank you, Mr. Handley. Supplementary, Mr. Yakeleya.
Supplementary To Question 8-15(4): Sahtu Land Claim Implementation
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. For whatever reasons it’s taken us so long for the Sahtu, there was a letter sent to the Aboriginal Affairs department in terms of the Sahtu wanting to enter into an agreement with the Government of the Northwest Territories on the economic measures. I guess I would like to ask the Minister to advise us when this letter will be discussed, or if it will be discussed as a Cabinet decision or a Ministerial discussion in terms of when they see light at the end of the day in terms of signing something with the Sahtu beneficiaries. They’re very anxious to move on this and get something in place before the life of this government ceases to exist. Thank you.
Thank you, Mr. Yakeleya. Mr. Handley.
Further Return To Question 8-15(4): Sahtu Land Claim Implementation
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The next meeting of the Economic Measures Working Group is scheduled for June 6th and I expect at that time or shortly following that meeting we should be able to come to an agreement on how we move forward with this. Mr. Speaker, I might mention that there’s a Sahtu implementation committee meeting as well that’s currently scheduled for September in Colville Lake. By then I hope we have the agreement. Thank you.
Thank you, Mr. Handley. Supplementary, Mr. Yakeleya.
Supplementary To Question 8-15(4): Sahtu Land Claim Implementation
Thank you. I appreciate the response from the Minister, Mr. Speaker, in terms of some good news for the Sahtu beneficiaries. I would like to ask the Minister if he would commit to, because of the time frames -- he’s looking at September as a close time frame -- maybe getting an agreement with the Sahtu that he would commit to a time frame close enough in September to say we will have a deal with the Sahtu people on this MOU with the chapter 12 of our agreement with the Government of the Northwest Territories. Thank you.
Thank you, Mr. Yakeleya. Mr. Handley.
Further Return To Question 8-15(4): Sahtu Land Claim Implementation
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. It has been difficult to schedule the meetings. This one is scheduled for September 15th in Colville Lake. It involves Canada as well, so I will, Mr. Speaker, aim at having this agreement in place and ready for discussion at that meeting. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Mr. Handley. Final supplementary, Mr. Yakeleya.
Supplementary To Question 8-15(4): Sahtu Land Claim Implementation
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I appreciate the Minister’s efforts to see if we can get an agreement signed with the Sahtu people. I don’t know the details of how these agreements come about in terms of the Gwich’in situation. I’m asking if the Minister could commit, if this government could commit, to see if that within the five or six months that the agreement can be signed with this government and the Sahtu beneficiaries on chapter 12 of the Sahtu Dene/Metis Land Claim Agreement. Thank you.
Thank you, Mr. Yakeleya. Mr. Handley.
Further Return To Question 8-15(4): Sahtu Land Claim Implementation
Mr. Speaker, yes, I will commit to making every effort I can on behalf of the GNWT to do that by September. Of course, we have to have the Sahtu representatives and the representatives of Canada also on side, but we will make best efforts to do that. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
