K'ATLODEECHE/HAY RIVER RESERVE - The Dehcho First Nations has taken the next step towards protecting an area known as Edehzhie.

Paul Latour, left, a biologist with Canadian Wildlife Service, Jonas Antoine and Bill Erasmus address the Dehcho First Nations' annual assembly during a discussion on Edehzhie. - Roxanna Thompson/NNSL photo

On June 24 during the Dehcho First Nations' annual assembly the leadership passed a motion directing Grand Chief Samuel Gargan to sign a letter asking Jim Prentice, the federal minister of the environment, to establish Edehzhie as a National Wildlife Area through the Canada Wildlife Act.

If established, Edehzhie National Wildlife Area would give permanent protection to 14,249 square kilometres of land including 44 per cent of the Horn Plateau eco-region.

"It's an important stage," said Jonas Antoine, the past chair of the Edehzhie Working Group.

Reaching this point has been a 10-year journey. In April 1999 Liidlii Kue First Nation began the process of protecting the Horn Plateau by undertaking the first two steps of the eight-step NWT Protected Area Strategy. Later that year the Dehcho leadership passed a resolution supporting the creation of a Horn Plateau protected area.

In 2000 the Liidlii Kue First Nation, Deh Gah Got'ie Dene Band, Jean Marie River First Nation and Pehdzeh Ki First Nation formally combined their efforts to protect the Horn Plateau along with the Horn River, Mills Lake and Willowlake River. The Tlicho First Nations communities of Whati and Behchoko also joined in the process.

In 2009, the Edehzhie Working Group made its final boundary recommendations asking for protection of a 14,249 square kilometre area, which is only 57 per cent of the original 25,000 square kilometre candidate area. In the letter to Prentice, Dehcho First Nations (DFN) calls the reduced boundary a compromise between conservation and economic potential.

Under the recommended boundary, 78 per cent of the hydrocarbon and mineral potential in the original candidate area remains available. The majority of the land is identified as having traditional and cultural importance, however, remain protected.

In addition to asking for the establishment of the Edehzhie National Wildlife Area, which automatically includes surface protection, DFN is also asking for permanent sub-surface protection, something not normally included in a National Wildlife Area designation. It will take extra work in parliament to secure sub-surface protection, Antoine said.

Although the leaders and delegates at the assembly ultimately gave permission for the letter to be signed many voiced concerns about the protection process.

Chief Jim Antoine of the Liidlii Kue First Nation questioned what will happen to treaty, aboriginal and harvesting rights if the Edehzhie National Wildlife Area is created. Antoine also asked who will have control over the area.

In the eyes of the Dene, control of the land has never been relinquished.

However, in the eyes of the federal government it's Canada's land, Antoine said. Through this process responsibility for the area will be passed from the Department of Indian and Northern Affairs to Environment Canada.

The purpose of the Protected Area Strategy is in part to protect traditional use and the whole process will be done without prejudice to treaty rights, said Chris Reid, the legal council for DFN.

If land selection is chosen as part of the Dehcho Process and areas like Edehzhie are protected DFN will be able to use its land quantum to pick other areas for economic development, Reid said.

"We think overall it's a positive step in the Dehcho Process," he said.

Grand Chief Samuel Gargan assured the delegates the letter is just another step and doesn't finalize anything. If the area is established a co-management committee comprised of the four Deh Cho communities and government officials will co-operatively manage the area.

"That's a positive step," said Gargan about being directed to sign the letter.

The letter also has to be signed by Grand Chief Joe Rabesca of the Tlicho Government before it can be sent to Ottawa.

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