Dene Tha opens new services

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ASSUMPTION - The official opening of new services which will improve the quality of life for the Dene Tha people here and at Meander River and Boucher River were celebrated recently.

The new services will provide natural gas for more than 200 homes at Assumption and Boucher River and improved roads for Meander River.

"We are very happy" with the new roads at Meander, says Dene Tha Chief Harry Chonkolay, and "there are many elderly people who will benefit from the natural gas. The cost of wood is quite high here."

Band Manager Fred Didzena, who is also a Band councillor, said the major disappointment of the opening was the absence of senior government officials, including the local member of the Legislature, Transportation and Utilities Minister Al "Boomer" Adair, Department of Indian Affairs Regional Director Dennis Wallace and DIA Director of Operations Heather Reden.

"There were a lot of other things I wanted them to see because the impact would help them to be sympathetic to our efforts to improve the quality of life in the community," Didzena said.

Chonkolay noted that his people didn't start getting assistance from DIA until 1965, but "many things have been done in the last 21 years.

"It seems like the reason we never had assistance before was that we were isolated"

That isolation was reduced in 1969 when the road to Rainbow Lake was put in.

Didzena said it was only a year ago that Alberta Utilities advised the Band that there were funds available for a gas system.

The total cost of instaling the gas distribution system was $660,000 with the Alberta government paying two thirds, and the Department of Indian Affairs, one third.

Unfortunately, Didzena said, it was not possible to provide gas to Meander at this time. "Meander is so remote from a gas source that it would cost $1 million," and the number of families there wouldn't make it cost-effective.

"Hopefully, in five years we will be able to put in the system."

Gas for a new system comes from the Nova line, which runs through the Assumption Reserve.

Didzena said when he started working for the Band in August 1983, "there were many people who came to me telling me it was very cold in their homes.

"I looked in their homes and saw that there was frost on the walls. We didn't have the necessary dollars to adequately repair the houses.

"At that time I heard about the possibilities of acquiring a natural gas system where the provincial government would pay up to two-thirds of the cost under the Rural Gas Program.

"We felt that something had to be done for the people, so we invited Alberta Utilities. They gave us the necessary information to proceed with a natural gas system."

In February 1986 the Band retained Campbell Ryder Engineering to design the system, and funding was confirmed on the basis of their proposal.

Actual construction started in July and was completed in August, with 40 kilo-metres of pipe laid and 200 outlets installed in 39 days.

"I would like to congratulate Campbell Ryder for the way the project went on in an expedient manner," Didzena said.

He said the key to the success of the project was the co-operation and "trust relationship" between the Band and the engineering firm, and the "model system" developed for the Dene Tha is available to other reserves and "it will work anywhere as long as there is co-operation."

Didzena's comments were echoed by Dave Campbell, the consulting engineer, who said the co-operation from the Band was excellent.

He noted, however, that it took some time for the people to accept the idea of using natural gas.

"There was a real mixed opinion from the reserve seniors, and there was a real desire to get the gas in," Campbell said.

"Several of the ladies expressed a strong opinion during construction that they were ready for the gas as their children were all grown and they didn't want to chop

wood. They wanted to enjoy the winter and not worry about staying warm.

"Some seniors didn't want te gas at first but during construction they changed their minds and asked for gas.

"We want the band to develop and grow and enjoy those things that we in the city take for granted," Campbell said.