2-02689

GOVERNMENT OF CANADA AND DEHCHO FIRST NATIONS REACH AGREEMENT

Yellowknife, NWT (July 11, 2005) - The Honourable Andy Scott, Minister of Indian and Northern Affairs, and Herb Norwegian, Grand Chief of Dehcho First Nations, today announced an agreement that provides direction for land, resource and governance negotiations under the Dehcho Process and which cooperatively resolves issues related to the review of the Mackenzie Gas Project (MGP).

"With this agreement, Canada’s discussions with the Dehcho First Nations on land, resources, and governance are back on track and will proceed with renewed vigour — and in turn generate greater certainty in the Mackenzie Valley." said Minister Scott. "We are committed to ensuring effective and meaningful participation of the Dehcho in both the environmental assessment and regulatory review of the Mackenzie Gas Project."

"This is a fair agreement which addresses some of our most urgent concerns about the pipeline project. The agreement will end the litigation begun by the Dehcho last year against Canada, but it does not mean that the DFN support the pipeline." said Grand Chief Norwegian. "We still have some very difficult negotiations ahead with the oil companies that want access to our lands."

The agreement to end the litigation includes the following specific features:

• Agreement to establish a Dehcho Resource Management Authority (DCRMA), as a body of public government, in a Final Agreement;
  
• Canada will consult with the DFN before issuing any authorizations or making any decisions relating to the MGP that might adversely affect their section 35 rights, and, if appropriate, will accommodate DFN concerns;
  
• Canada will consult with the DFN on terms and conditions for new oil and gas exploration in the Dehcho territory;
  
• Canada and the DFN will complete interim land withdrawal negotiations in the Wrigley area to protect environmentally sensitive areas and identify a pipeline study corridor;
• Canada and the DFN agree to implement an approved and favourably considered land use plan as soon as possible after the Plan’s completion;
  
• Canada will provide $15 million in economic development funding to assist the DFN in exploring and developing business opportunities. This funding will be taken into consideration in the Dehcho Process Final Agreement. Canada will also provide $6 million for participation in the environmental and regulatory review process;
  
• Canada and the DFN agree in principle, that a process should be established to monitor and recommend mitigation measures regarding environmental assessment and socio-economic impacts of an approved MGP;
  
• Agreement that the DFN discontinue existing legal actions related to the MGP; and
  
• Agreement on releases from the issues raised in litigation which are directly related to the Mackenzie Gas Project.

"I am confident that with the signing of this agreement, the Dehcho First Nations now have the capacity and resources they require to fully engage in the Dehcho Process," said the Honourable Ethel Blondin-Andrew, Minister of State for Northern Development and Member of Parliament for Western Arctic. "This means that the Dehcho will participate in the review processes with respect to the Mackenzie Gas Project. They will also have additional resources to develop economic opportunities in their communities such as those that may arise from the pipeline."

Discussions are currently underway to finalize a workplan to resume Dehcho Process negotiations. In the meantime, this Settlement Agreement provides the Dehcho First Nations the tools they need to participate in the environmental assessment and regulatory review processes of the Mackenzie Gas Project.

For further information contact:

Toni Riley
Communications
DIAND, NWT Region
(867) 669-2451

Grand Chief Herb Norwegian
Dehcho First Nations
(867) 695-2355

Campbell Morrison
Press Secretary
Minister Andy Scott’s Office
(819) 997-0002

Chris Reid
Dehcho Process
Dehcho First Nations
(867) 695-2355

For a copy of the legal text of the Settlement Agreement, please contact Jeff Campbell at INAC Media Relations at (819) 994-3932 or campbellj@inac.gc.ca

Backgrounder - Details respecting the Settlement Agreement

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