Mr. Speaker, what the aboriginal groups want to do is to start defining the inherent right, using the mechanism of the northern accord. That is where we raise our objections. We feel that the inherent right is more properly addressed through negotiations with the federal government and ourselves in self-government negotiations. We can, at this time, make some broad statements about the inherent right, but the specific elements of what may be within the scope of the inherent right are better left to negotiations.

That is because there is some difficulty with being specific and predetermining negotiations through forums like this Legislature. Having said that, this government has been prepared, for instance, to recognize that legislative and administrative capacity over aspects of oil, gas and other natural resources must, from our perspective, be determined to fall within the scope of the inherent right. What that means and the details of that, again, should be subject to negotiations. It is not for us to unilaterally dictate our positions because, for as well. one, in the event that a court case should be taken, the position of this Cabinet may be used and at that time, it may

not be of comfort to the aboriginal groups, who are seeking some clarification and specifics from this government. Further Return To Question 603-12(7): Status Of BIP The Deh Cho, for instance, have said that any statement we've come up with so far -- the first one, plus the draft that I've given them -- takes away from the inherent right; therefore, they don't want any statement from us at this time. The Sahtu is, as far as I understand it, the only one still interested in such a statement. There, again, we have a draft which I was prepared to give them but, because of the rejection by most of the groups, we're considering what to do with the draft we have placed before them. Thank you.