The leaders of the North Slave M茅tis Alliance (NSMA) are looking forward to collaborating with the next premier of the Northwest Territories after being SA国际影视传媒渓eft out for yearsSA国际影视传媒� by past governments.

SA国际影视传媒淸The next premier must have] the ability to bring cabinet together and to effectively govern the NWT while ensuring the NSMA is not left behind in doing so,SA国际影视传媒� said NSMA President Marc Whitford. SA国际影视传媒淥ur past premier has worked hard to assist NSMA within her office and I look forward to the incoming premier continuing to do so.SA国际影视传媒�

SA国际影视传媒淐ouldnSA国际影视传媒檛 have said it any better myself,SA国际影视传媒� added Alan Harman, NSMASA国际影视传媒檚 vice-president. SA国际影视传媒淲e want the next premier to support the NSMA in a way that is fair and in line with the treatment of other Indigenous governments. We are an equal and need to be handled as such.SA国际影视传媒�

The territorySA国际影视传媒檚 next premier will be decided by the members of the legislative assembly on Thursday, Dec. 7.

There are four contenders in the running to replace outgoing premier Caroline Cochrane: R.J. Simpson of Hay River North, Shane Thompson of Nahendeh, Kieron Testart of Range Lake, and Caroline Wawzonek of Yellowknife South.

Whitford and Harman said they are SA国际影视传媒渟upportive of all of the candidates for premier,SA国际影视传媒� noting that all but Testart have already served as cabinet ministers, and that Testart has experience working with the Liberal Party of Canada.

SA国际影视传媒淲e have worked closely with three of them in the last government,SA国际影视传媒� Whitford said. SA国际影视传媒淸Those three] have been ministers and know the inner workings of cabinet. The other has a great deal of political experience and has worked with First Nations as well as with a major political party at a national level.

SA国际影视传媒淭hey are well rounded as a group,SA国际影视传媒� he added. SA国际影视传媒淭he race could possibly be more wide open than we realized.SA国际影视传媒�

Whoever is elected premier on Dec. 7, Whitford and Harman have a long list of goals they are hoping to push forward.

The SA国际影视传媒渕ain one,SA国际影视传媒� according to Whitford, is a land claim for NSMA.

SA国际影视传媒淭his means getting the complete support of the premierSA国际影视传媒檚 office as an advocate for fair treatment of the NSMA when dealing with the federal government in Ottawa,SA国际影视传媒� he said.

Whitford and Harman are hoping to facilitate SA国际影视传媒渄irect meetingsSA国际影视传媒� with the new premier to determine SA国际影视传媒渨hat can be done and in what time frame for a land claim.SA国际影视传媒�

They are also hoping the new territorial leader can help set up a meeting with Ottawa to advance land claim discussions.

In addition, the pair would like NSMA to be included in the devolution agreement, to sit on the Intergovernmental Council, and to be included in the Taltson hydro upgrade project SA国际影视传媒渁nd any developments resulting from it.SA国际影视传媒�

They will also be looking for SA国际影视传媒渙ngoing fundingSA国际影视传媒� for NSMA and land for the construction of M茅tis homes, among other things.

SA国际影视传媒淸The next premier must] have courage to stand up so that all Indigenous governments receive equal treatment and be able to make hard choices with fair outcomes for all affected,SA国际影视传媒� Whitford said.

SA国际影视传媒淲e are facing a lot of concerns as Northerners as a whole that need to be addressed together based on respect and accountability,SA国际影视传媒� Harman added. SA国际影视传媒淭he Indigenous groups have a lot of good ideas on what they want the future of the NWT to look like, which will not only benefit the government but all NWT residents.SA国际影视传媒�