Thank you, Mr. Speaker. [Translation] Mahsi. I’m glad to talk to you. I’m also glad to speak on behalf of the Dehcho Process, and they have been working with the federal and territorial governments. Eventually there will be some political resolve to the Dehcho Process. [Translation ends]
It formally began in 1999 and the people of the Dehcho First Nations. It is really the continuation of a long process that started when Europeans first made contact with indigenous Aboriginal people. Once it is concluded, the final agreement will clearly set out the Aboriginal and treaty rights of the Dehcho First Nations, including the ownership and the title of the Dehcho lands and resources, harvesting rights, cash compensation and royalties from resource development.
The final agreement would provide an elected public Dehcho government with the power to make and enforce Dehcho laws, design and deliver programs and services for all residents living in the Deh Cho region and establish processes regarding the use, management and the conservation of land, water and resources in the Deh Cho.
In 2001 the parties, including the GNWT and federal government, along with the Dehcho First Nations, signed an interim measures agreement and a framework agreement. The IMA addresses how the conservation, development and use of Dehcho lands, waters and resources will be handled, pending the completion of the final agreement. The framework agreement sets out the subject areas to be negotiated in order to achieve an agreement-in-principle and conclude a final agreement. Right now the parties are in the process of negotiating an AIP and completing the Dehcho Land Use Plan.
While a great deal of work has been accomplished, a lot remains to be done. Main table negotiations are entrenched and proceeding very slowly on difficult issues relating to the size of the land quantum and no agreement on a legislative basis for a land and resource management regime. The lack of a federal representative at the Dehcho Land Use Planning Committee also appears to be hurting the progress.
Mr. Speaker, I seek unanimous consent to conclude my statement.
---Unanimous consent granted
On the other hand, progress is being made in bilateral discussions between the GNWT and the Dehcho First Nations on issues related to devolution, and I’m told the finish line is practically in sight. As the MLA for Deh Cho, I want to reiterate my support for the successful conclusion of the Dehcho Process.
The negotiations are complex and difficult. Negotiators must deal with challenging subjects and times when the positions of the parties seem very far apart. I want to stress to the parties the importance of taking an interest-based versus a positional approach to negotiations.
When the negotiations are at their most difficult, I want to encourage all of the parties at the table not to lose sight of the main goal for why these negotiations are happening, so that the Dehcho First Nations people can finally be in control of their own destiny and govern themselves on their own lands. This, I believe, is in the best interests of all Northerners and Canadians. Mahsi.
Thank you, Mr. Nadli. The Member for Range Lake, Mr. Dolynny.
