Deninu Kue First Nation takes fight for benefits to new Indigenous Affairs minister

The Deninu Kue First Nation hopes the new federal government will do more to help get it benefits from the Northwest Territories'diamond mines.

The First Nation is based in Fort Resolution on Akaitcho Territory. Unlike the two other Akaitcho First Nations the Yellowknives Dene and Lutselk'eDeninuKuewasexcluded from impact benefit agreements (IBAs) with the owners of the Ekati, Diavik and Snap Lakediamond mines because its settlement ison the south side of Great Slave Lake.

"What they'resayingis we're on the south shore of the lakeand all the mining's on the north shore, but ...we're still negotiating for lands, so we should be part of allIBAsthat were given to the other [Akaitcho] First Nations," saidDeninuKueChief LouisBalsillie.

"We are part of Akaitcho."

The DKFN sent letters in 2014 and 2015 to the previous Aboriginal Affairs ministerBernard Valcourt askingto discuss the matter, but Balsillie says itnever got a response.

Now he's hoping the new minister, Carolyn Bennett, will accept the invitation to meet with the band.

Balsillie says the First Nation is looking for compensation for losing out onthe jobs and business opportunities IBAs bring. He wouldn't specify anamount.

The Deninu Kue First Nationsigned an IBA withthe Gahcho Kue diamond mine in 2014 after proving its traditional activities extend to that region. It also has IBAswith theAvalon Nechalacho project and Tamerlane's Pine Point project.