Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Again, after hearing the Minister’s statement on devolution, I have to sort of cringe, knowing that the Dene aren’t part of the process. They make up almost 45 percent of the NWT population consisting of five regions in the Northwest Territories. They’re the region most impacted by resource development in the Northwest Territories.
I believe the Dene/Metis claim clearly stipulated that they shall be involved in the process. They didn’t have to ask to be invited, as has been suggested in the Premier’s comments. They have the right to be at these tables. Yet I quote in regard to a Globe and Mail article which states that Mr. Roland now worries that he may have been heavy-handed in ramming it through. Well, you definitely were heavy-handed and it’s definitely something that shows here today, that the Dene people are again being trampled on by a government that has no say on Dene lands without their consent and involvement.
I know we heard from a lot of Dene leaders when the Devolution Agreement was being signed, directed at a lot of the Aboriginal MLAs to resign and step down. For myself as an MLA being here for 16 years, that is one of my reasons for leaving. I think it’s important to realize that this government’s approach to Aboriginal people, especially the Dene people up and down the Mackenzie Valley, is totally unacceptable on how we deal with our First Nations people in the Northwest Territories. More importantly, those people who have constitutional rights, whether it’s under Section 35 of the Canadian Constitution or treaties under Treaty 8 and Treaty 11 and modern-day treaties.
I, for one, take offence from the comments in the Minister’s statement that the members are being invited back to the table. To be invited to a party means you basically send out an invitation and say come to the party. The Dene do not have to be invited to the party. They have the right to be there.
I will question the Premier on this later.
Thank you, Mr. Krutko. The honourable Member for Sahtu, Mr. Yakeleya.
