As the City of Yellowknife and Yellowknives Dene First Nation signed a fresh mutual agreement Thursday, leaders faced questions over a scrapped Indigenous relations post at city hall. 

The Memoranda of Understanding that Mayor Rebecca Alty, Chief Edward Sangris and Chief Ernest Betsina signed on Thursday morning commits to regular meetings between city and Yellowknives leaders and senior staff, especially in regards to reconciliation. It is an updated version from the one previously signed in 2002. 

The signing was held two days after city council quashed a proposal from Coun. Stacie Smith to save the Indigenous relations post, which is funded through federal money that expires in February.

Before Betsina was informed that council scrapped the position during a press scrum at the signing, he told reporters he hoped the citySA国际影视传媒檚 decision wasnSA国际影视传媒檛 final. (Maggie Mercredi, who holds the position, worked on ThursdaySA国际影视传媒檚 signing, he added later.)

 SA国际影视传媒淚tSA国际影视传媒檚 looks like thereSA国际影视传媒檚 been a decision made already. So weSA国际影视传媒檒l just go forward from that,SA国际影视传媒� he said, following comments last week in which he said the city's decision to cut the position left him SA国际影视传媒漛affled."

Since the launch of the 18-month position in September 2018, Betsina said heSA国际影视传媒檇 seen improvement in YKDFNSA国际影视传媒檚 relationship with the city. For him, it was helpful to have a SA国际影视传媒済o-to personSA国际影视传媒� at city hall to facilitate the relationship.

SA国际影视传媒淚 believe it was beneficial when she was there,SA国际影视传媒� he said, explaining she worked on the memorandum of understanding, the boundary between YKDFN and the city, and reconciliation efforts. SA国际影视传媒淲eSA国际影视传媒檒l see what happens from here I guess.SA国际影视传媒�

Responding to the same question, Mayor Alty reiterated previous comments that reconciliation ought to be citywide work, and not limited to a single position. 

SA国际影视传媒淲e received federal funding to do a reconciliation plan. With that funding we were able to hire a termed position and so the position was responsible for developing the plan,SA国际影视传媒� she said, explaining once that is developed, it will be implemented through the work of all city business.

SA国际影视传媒淲e do take reconciliation serious,SA国际影视传媒� she said. SA国际影视传媒淲eSA国际影视传媒檒l be continuing once the plan comes forward, implementing it, then continuing are relationship with YKDFN.SA国际影视传媒�

Chief Sangris said reconciliation will move forward, with or without the position. 

While the position of liaison was important to both communities, he said, SA国际影视传媒渞econciliation will take place in due time.SA国际影视传媒�

Council quashes proposal, commits $50,000 more to reconciliation effort

Council voted down SmithSA国际影视传媒檚 proposal to make the fixed-term position indeterminate during budget talks on Tuesday. 

Council then held another vote, proposed by Alty and passed unanimously, that allocated $50,000 toward reconciliation efforts.

Before being voted down, Smith argued that representation of Indigenous staff in City Hall was currently lacking and that SA国际影视传媒渟ometimes going to non-Indigenous (staff) is a little difficult.

 SA国际影视传媒淚 havenSA国际影视传媒檛 heard from one person who said this position should leave,SA国际影视传媒� she added later during the discussion. 

Also during discussion, Senior Administrative Officer Sheila Bassi-Kellett said the work expected of the position to date was to co-ordinate a reconciliation action plan, which is currently in development.

She stressed that reconciliation work has been shared across city departments SA国际影视传媒� a point that Alty echoed as she argued to SA国际影视传媒渕ake sure all employees are living our valuesSA国际影视传媒� and to not silo these reconciliation efforts. 

Speaking to Yellowknifer after the vote, Smith said she was SA国际影视传媒渟hocked.

SA国际影视传媒淭he people who feel that they were minorities (Couns. Silverio and Mufandaedza) were the ones that voted for it. We had a lot of support from the community, so now itSA国际影视传媒檚 up to the community to talk to city councillors and tell them what they want,SA国际影视传媒� she said.

Agreement 'a step in the right direction'

Sangris described the agreement the leaders signed Thursday as a step in the right direction, as leaders pointed to co-operation on infrastructure and economic development as key areas moving forward. 

Alty added the agreement gives more structure to the intergovernmental relationship. She also noted it will assist in following-up on items that arise from meetings between the two.

Ndilo Chief Ernest Betsina pointed to the fresh start associated with the First NationSA国际影视传媒檚 newly elected council members, noting seven out of 10 are women and five are new to their positions.

SA国际影视传媒淚 see these MOUs if anything as going to strengthen the city and YKDFN,SA国际影视传媒� he said, adding that joint projects like infrastructure are areas where the two can collaborate. 

SA国际影视传媒淲hateverSA国际影视传媒檚 good for YKDFN is good for our city. ThatSA国际影视传媒檚 what weSA国际影视传媒檙e hoping,SA国际影视传媒� he said.