The Dene Nation has joined calls for an independent inquiry into the GNWTSA国际影视传媒檚 response to the wildfires that devastated the territory last summer.

SA国际影视传媒淎 full inquiry into the wildfire catastrophe requires all participants to discuss what happened and how we can prepare to better safeguard our people and ensure clear chains of command that prioritize the wellness and safety of our peoples,SA国际影视传媒� Dene National Chief Gerald Antoine stated in a Feb. 14 news release.

SA国际影视传媒淭his evacuation was likened to forcible removal by former governments with thousands of our people displaced with no clear communication or resources to ensure their safety and wellness in some cases.SA国际影视传媒�

Last yearSA国际影视传媒檚 wildfires resulted in the evacuation of numerous NWT communities, including Behchoko, Fort Smith, Salt River First Nation, Smith Landing First Nation, Jean Marie River, West Point First Nation, Hay River, KSA国际影视传媒檃tlSA国际影视传媒檕deeche First Nation, Ndilo, Dettah, Yellowknife, Kakisa and Enterprise. Some of those communities experienced widespread destruction, most notably Enterprise, where the majority of buildings burned down.

A potential inquiry into the GNWTSA国际影视传媒檚 handling of the wildfires was brought up during the latest sitting of the territorySA国际影视传媒檚 legislative assembly. The motion SA国际影视传媒� introduced by Range Lake MLA Kieron Testart and seconded by Dehcho MLA Sheryl Yakeleya SA国际影视传媒� requested that NWT commissioner Margaret Thom create a committee under the Public Inquiries Act.

However, the motion was countered by another from Premier R.J. Simpson, which was seconded by Deputy Premier Caroline Wawzonek. SimpsonSA国际影视传媒檚 motion sought to defer debate on an inquiry to Feb. 22.

SA国际影视传媒淚SA国际影视传媒檓 of the opinion that itSA国际影视传媒檚 not the best way to do it,SA国际影视传媒� Simpson told SA国际影视传媒 on Feb. 9. SA国际影视传媒淚tSA国际影视传媒檚 not the most inclusive way and we would have no control over both costs and timing.

SA国际影视传媒淚f we have our own review, we can recover those costs from federal recovery funding,SA国际影视传媒� he added. SA国际影视传媒淯nder a public inquiry, we wouldnSA国际影视传媒檛 be able to get that money refunded.SA国际影视传媒�

Two GNWT departments, Environment and Climate Change (ECC) and Municipal and Community Affairs (MACA), have already launched reviews SA国际影视传媒� what the GNWT is calling SA国际影视传媒渁fter-action assessmentsSA国际影视传媒� SA国际影视传媒� into the decision-making surrounding last yearSA国际影视传媒檚 catastrophe.

SA国际影视传媒淭he ECC review is the more technical one and itSA国际影视传媒檚 being done by a third-party contractor, and the MACA one is still finalizing the terms of reference,SA国际影视传媒� Simpson explained. SA国际影视传媒淭his way may take a bit longer, but we want things to be done properly so we can see what needs to be done and make sure we have things in place. In my opinion, this will be better than having a public inquiry.SA国际影视传媒�

However, those reviews may not be enough to satisfy the Dene Nation, particularly with another season of wildfires and SA国际影视传媒渄ire low water levelsSA国际影视传媒� approaching.

SA国际影视传媒淩esidents of the NWT need the opportunity to prepare [and] to talk about their experiences from this summer and hear from others to prepare for the coming years,SA国际影视传媒� the Dene NationSA国际影视传媒檚 Feb. 14 news release stated. SA国际影视传媒淭he climate crisis is upon us and will only get worse. We must prepare to respond to ensure our communities have the maximum participation, protection and care.SA国际影视传媒�

SA国际影视传媒楾his inquiry makes a lot of senseSA国际影视传媒�

While Antoine was not immediately available for further comment, former Dene national chief and Sahtu MLA Norman Yakeleya threw his support behind calls for an independent inquiry.

SA国际影视传媒淎s former national chief, I would support the Dene Nation along with any other political organization or communities, or the people that were greatly affected in the North,SA国际影视传媒� he said, calling last yearSA国际影视传媒檚 fires SA国际影视传媒渦nprecedented.SA国际影视传媒�

Yakeleya, who is married to DehchoSA国际影视传媒檚 current MLA, heard Simpson push back against the notion of an inquiry earlier this month, and encouraged the premier to reevaluate his stance.

SA国际影视传媒淭he premier, if he has strong words of rebuilding relationships with Aboriginal governments of the North, I think he needs to reconsider his words, because itSA国际影视传媒檚 all about trust, itSA国际影视传媒檚 all about safety,SA国际影视传媒� he said. SA国际影视传媒淗is cabinetSA国际影视传媒檚 got to reconsider and figure a way out how we can work together with our people.

SA国际影视传媒淗is officials [need to] not only think about dollars, theySA国际影视传媒檝e got to look at the sense part, and this inquiry makes a lot of sense, because our lives, our homes, our communities are priceless.SA国际影视传媒�

Yakeleya said the most important objective of a potential inquiry should be hearing from SA国际影视传媒渢he people who were affectedSA国际影视传媒� by the fires, and pointed specifically to residents of Enterprise.

SA国际影视传媒淭heySA国际影视传媒檙e hurting, theySA国际影视传媒檙e scared,SA国际影视传媒� he said. SA国际影视传媒淕ive them the opportunity, give them voice to say what happened to them, to their homes, their families, their displacement.

SA国际影视传媒淪omeoneSA国际影视传媒檚 got to be held accountable, and this public inquiry, if itSA国际影视传媒檚 put together properly can address this.SA国际影视传媒�