As I said, through Executive I would have to come back to this House requesting additional funds through Aboriginal Affairs and Intergovernmental Relations through the regional leaders’ approach continue to use that as one of the tools. The other area is to get as much information out to the public, both Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal people, so that as they become more familiar with this they will be able to ask the same questions that are being asked of us to a certain degree and be in a better position to respond in some cases when they’re asked what their position is if their leadership goes to the communities, for example. It is by the initial contact we’ve made, by the commitment following up to work with those who even though they have not signed, to continue to work with them around the AIP to get a better understanding so hopefully they feel that their rights are indeed protected and that this will not take away any of their authorities that are there and established. I mean, I recall one meeting we were at with one of the Aboriginal groups and questions were being made. I made some comments at the table and the question still came up about what is the Government of the Northwest Territories going to do. It was the Deputy Premier who pointed out that you’ve got the Premier of the Northwest Territories making a commitment to you here. I guess I’ve been at the table, I’ve said to the groups that as the Government of the Northwest Territories we are recognizing those rights, Constitution, Section 35, the land claims that are in place, the interim measures pieces that are in place. I think, as well, trying to point out where we are actually working together on things like the Wildlife Act, things like the Water Strategy, those things were there at the table with us. With a pen. It’s something that was never seen in the history of the Northwest Territories. This very discussion about going forward I would say is that not the essence of self-determination where the groups are at the table and they’re going to help design the next steps forward. It’s not one where on high from Ottawa a decision like Edehzhie comes out and says we’re going to change this. Or the regulatory reform work that’s going on right now by the federal government is one where they’re doing the work and, yes they’ll consult by having a couple of meetings and then
they’re going to issue a direction from on high. I say that’s different than the way we do business and the way we’ve proven to do business through the life of this Assembly. Hopefully that continues to be the approach as we go forward. Every Assembly would have to make a decision on that approach.
The one thing, I guess, that in the spirit of going forward and firming up that relationship between Aboriginal governments and the territorial government, was the concept I put on the table last spring in Dettah about the regional leaders’ table being, in a sense, a council of regional leadership and the Government of the Northwest Territories where we would sign an agreement like that of the Council of the Federation where we respect everybody at the table with their rights and authorities and it’s not there to negotiate one way or another. It’s not a negotiation. It’s just recognizing the people at the table. When there are joint initiatives, that’s a very successful approach. We’ve been from that even on our own. Unfortunately, it didn’t get taken up. Everybody got very busy.