A new agreement risks sparking an old dispute between the NWT Metis Nation (NWTMN) and the KSA国际影视传媒檃tlSA国际影视传媒檕deeche First Nation (KFN).
The disagreement is related to the Metis NationSA国际影视传媒檚 recent self-government framework agreement signed with the federal and NWT governments on May 19. The deal provides a framework to guide negotiations towards self-government for the NWTMN, part of larger talks on land claims the organization has been holding with the federal government since 1996.
RELATED REPORTING: NWT Metis Nation inks framework deal on self-government
KFN has taken issue with the deal, telling First Nation members in a May 20 notice that a self-government agreement that includes KFN traditional territory would infringe on its Aboriginal and treaty rights.
RELATED REPORTING: KFN registers objections with Metis framework agreement
The notice was also posted on Facebook.
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But in an interview with SA国际影视传媒 on June 2, NWTMN President Garry Bailey said he rejects the notion that thereSA国际影视传媒檚 a conflict with the KFN.
SA国际影视传媒淲e have a history. We have rights as well in these areas weSA国际影视传媒檙e in. They want to spend their money challenging us rather than working together? ItSA国际影视传媒檚 crazy,SA国际影视传媒� he said. SA国际影视传媒淚SA国际影视传媒檓 not going to be picking fights with KFN. My fight is with Canada. I donSA国际影视传媒檛 have to prove my rights to other Aboriginal people.SA国际影视传媒�
The KFNSA国际影视传媒檚 notice to members added that to avoid an infringement on its rights and titles on traditional land, the NWTMN agreement area boundary should be moved east of KFN territory.
Bailey said he has no direct comment on that idea, but explained in general that the NWTMN doesnSA国际影视传媒檛 occupy KFN reserve land and the First NationSA国际影视传媒檚 traditional territory isnSA国际影视传媒檛 theirs exclusively.
SA国际影视传媒淚tSA国际影视传媒檚 a shared traditional territory among all Indigenous peoples in the NWT,SA国际影视传媒� he said.
Any discussions on potential overlap of territories would be dealt with at the appropriate time, Bailey said. For now, the NWTMN is focusing on moving ahead with its new framework agreement.
Recurring issue over land claims
KFNSA国际影视传媒檚 dispute with the framework deal is at least the third time in almost three years that the South Slave First Nation has voiced opposition to the Metis NationSA国际影视传媒檚 claims.
Almost one year ago, KFN filed a lawsuit in the Supreme Court of the NWT over what it said was the construction of unauthorized cabins on its territory. The suit was filed against the GNWT, NWTMN and the Hay River Metis Government Council (HRMGC).
RELATED REPORTING: KFN launches legal action over building of SA国际影视传媒榰nauthorizedSA国际影视传媒� cabins
SA国际影视传媒淭hey claim to have SA国际影视传媒榬ecognized (section) 35 rightsSA国际影视传媒� to build cabins in our territory,SA国际影视传媒� KFN Chief April Martel said in a news release in July 2020, referring to the Canadian Constitution. SA国际影视传媒淚n fact, the NWTMN, HRMGC and its members only started to assert rights within the KFN territory after they began moving to the Town of Hay River.SA国际影视传媒�
The chief said those asserted rights have not been recognized or established by any government or in any court, and not by KFN.
In November 2018, after the NWTMN erected a sign on a highway junction welcoming travellers to its SA国际影视传媒渢raditional territory,SA国际影视传媒� members of the KFN council expressed frustration.
RELATED REPORTING: KFN follows the way of the ancestors
The First Nation said at the time that none of its traditional territory should be included in the Metis Nation claim and that its boundary should be moved to the east of KFN territory, which is in the area of the junction of Highway 5 and Highway 6. towards Fort Resolution.
An image from a KFN map of the two land claim areas shows the NWTMNSA国际影视传媒檚 proposed agreement areas overlapping most of the KFNSA国际影视传媒檚 primary traditional territory boundary, according to a CBC North report from 2018.
RELATED REPORTING:
Martel did not respond to repeated requests for comment by press deadline.
The NWTMNSA国际影视传媒檚 framework agreement outlines the process for self-government negotiations, including governance of the NWTMN entities, legal status and capacity of Metis governments, administration of lands, Metis government finances, law-making authority, implementation plans and elections for Metis government.
