Gwich'in mark 20 years since land claim agreement

Twenty years after the Gwich'in signed their comprehensive land claim agreement, Inuvik played host to the Dene Leadership meeting this week with the theme "Making Treaties work in 2012."

The Gwichin signed the agreement with the federal and territorial governments on April 22, 1992, and are marking the 20th anniversary with feasts and dances across the settlement area in northern N.W.T.

However a hot topic at the Dene Leadership meeting was the Gwichin lawsuit against both levels of government over a lack of consultation on devolutionthe transferral of power from the federal to the territorial government.

"It's an embarrassment to the Crown that here the Gwichin have made an agreement and Canada isn't living up to that agreement, so they have to resort to the courts," said Francois Paulette, an elder of the Smith's Landing Treaty 8 First Nation. "Why is that? I ask that question."

The lawsuit isn't the only issue facing the Gwich'in. Twenty years after the agreement was signed they're still waiting for self government, implementation, and dispute resolutioncommon problems for many groups who have or are negotiating agreements.

Sean Atleo, National Chief of the Assembly of First Nations, said the prime minister indicated in January he was open to sitting down with aboriginal groups and finding solutions to these outstanding issues.

"They have agreed to strike up a table to discuss the comprehensive claim policy and how to remove barriers on implementation of self government," he said.

Dene National Chief Bill Erasmus said discussions are necessary.

"They're realizing they're going to have to talk to us," he said. "The fact the prime minister is making that kind of overture is interesting but we have never been invited to sit down and do that and that is what people of the North need."