Negotiators from Colville Lake meet with N.W.T. officials on the land to discuss self-government

The First Nation representing members from Colville Lake, N.W.T., is holding a landmark self-government negotiation out on the land.

Joseph Kochon, the chief negotiator for Behdzi Ahda First Nation, said they've been challenging both the territorial government and Canada to meet themon the land for years.

"Just to survive, you have to get your everyday wood, you have to haul your water," he said."Everything [you] do is physical."

This request was accepted last year, butwildfire evacuations delayed it, according to David Codzi, who works with the community government. Now this year, representatives from the N.W.T. government are at Horton Lake, an area on the treeline about 150 kilometres east of Colville Lake.

It's an area with deep historic significance to members of Colville Lake, whose ancestors would hunt caribou in the area using spears.

"In our history, our people used to migrate, follow the wildlife," Codzi said.

"They used to come here and do their fall hunts."

CBC News is at Horton Lake to cover the community gathering and the fact the negotiations are happening on the land.

The gathering will be featured in a special episode of Northbeat dedicated to stories on the land on Sept. 30, the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation.