Mr. Chair, I would just like to make it clear for the record, it does not say shall be involved, it says shall involve. The “be” isn’t there. Again, I think that it’s pretty clear from a letter that was sent to the Premier as Minister of Aboriginal Affairs and Premier of the Northwest Territories which was April last year before the agreement was
even contemplated being signed off, which was five months prior to the signing. It clearly stipulated six areas of contention that they had in the devolution agreement. The Gwich’in claim is a comprehensive claim. The president, the board of directors cannot endorse anything until it’s endorsed at the Gwich’in assembly. They can’t remove any lands, they can’t open up any lands, they can’t make a decision unless it’s approved by the collective at the Assembly. A decision that was made previous by the previous leader knew before he could sign off on anything it had to receive that approval. This issue was discussed at the Gwich’in assembly before the letter was even submitted to the Premier. Again, that letter was never taken to the table to recognize those areas of contention.
It’s important to realize that the one clause you read in the agreement regarding the area of devolution included the understanding that the devolution process was contingent on the 1988 agreement signed between the federal government, the Government of the Northwest Territories and the Aboriginal groups regarding the Dene/Metis claim. You can’t have one without all those elements put together to come up with a devolution agreement that includes those elements so that people can negotiate and be involved fully. Simply because you received a letter from a group that they do not have the mandate or that they have a contention with an issue, that’s the whole area of negotiation and consultation.
I find it kind of odd that you will read one section but not realize the fundamental element of the land claim agreements are the surface rights resources section of those agreements that clearly illustrates that before any lands, resources or before any powers are transferred, that those elements have to be taken into consideration and built into those agreements and arrangements.
Again, I could sit here and argue all day with you, but that is the problem we are facing here today. The consultation aspect of how the Government of the Northwest Territories consulted by simply saying sorry, you’re not at the table, we’re not going to deal with you, yet you know what their issues are but you don’t take those issues to the table and try to resolve them or respond within a reasonable time frame and not wait seven months for a letter that would have made a difference in the devolution talks. It’s not only the Gwich’in who are saying that, but other Aboriginal groups, whether it’s the Tlicho or other regions are having the same aspects, yet it’s pretty clear from the groups that were signed and the information that was provided that they were fully involved in those tables and the other groups weren’t.
So we talk about a working relationship, collaboration and cooperation with regard to the implementation of those agreements, the elements
of those agreements, but you have to be clear as a department that you are implementing the obligations that you have under the different land claim agreements and carrying out those obligations that you have to involve those groups with regard to the devolution and Northern Accord process.