Land claim excludes self-government

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Negotiations over a comprehensive land claim settlement in the Northwest Territories have ended despite Native concerns that the deal was not everything they wanted.

The agreement reached between the Sahtu Dene and Metis and federal negotiators Jan. 10 provides land, economic benefits and resource management rights but ignores the issue of self-government.

"We didn't get everything we wanted," said Sahtu Tribal Council president George Cleary. "We wanted self-government entrenched."

Native negotiators wanted a self-government clause included in the document, he said. But the apparent rejection of Native self-government in last October's constitutional referendum ended further discussion on the subject.

Cleary said he realized Canadians were voting no to the constitutional package and not necessarily to the idea of Native self-government. But the climate created by the referendum results made further self-government talks in the land claim settlement impossible.

Once approval by the Sahtu Assembly and the provincial and federal governments, the deal will provide the Sahtu Dene and Metis with ownership of 41,437 square kilometres of land, 1,813 square kilometres of which include subsurface rights.

The four Dene bands and three Metis communities will also collect a tax-free financial payment worth $75 million, to be paid out over 15 years, and a continuing share of federal resource royalties.

Other rights include some exclusive and preferential wildlife harvesting rights and a role in deciding land-use issues dealing with renewable resources, land and water use and environmental reviews.

"It will provide the people from the Sahtu region with land, economic benefits and management participation over harvesting, land and water use and environmental concerns," Sahtu Tribal Council president George Cleary said.

"No resources equals a loss of control of the land. We want as large a land base

as possible and a strong co-managerial regime."

Cleary said the issue of self-government was important, but not vital. The Sahtu intend to pursue their own negotiations for self-government with federal officials at a later date.

In the meantime, details over land distribution between the Dene and Metis must still be worked out.

The Sahtu Dene and Metis live in the five communities of Colville Lake, Fort Good Hope, Norman Wells, Fort Norman and Fort Franklin. Land ownership outside

the five communities and a plan to identify obligations and costs have yet to be negotiated.

A ratification vote by the Sahtu Dene and Metis is expected to take place April 26 - 29. The agreement will then be considered for ratification by the territorial and federal governments.