The Dene Nation has joined calls for an independent inquiry into the GNWT’s response to the wildfires that devastated the territory last summer.
“A 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,” Dene National Chief Gerald Antoine stated in a Feb. 14 news release.
“This 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.”
Last year’s 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, K’atl’odeeche 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 GNWT’s handling of the wildfires was brought up during the latest sitting of the territory’s legislative assembly. The motion — introduced by Range Lake MLA Kieron Testart and seconded by Dehcho MLA Sheryl Yakeleya — 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. Simpson’s motion sought to defer debate on an inquiry to Feb. 22.
“I’m of the opinion that it’s not the best way to do it,” Simpson told NNSL Media on Feb. 9. “It’s not the most inclusive way and we would have no control over both costs and timing.
“If we have our own review, we can recover those costs from federal recovery funding,” he added. “Under a public inquiry, we wouldn’t be able to get that money refunded.”
Two GNWT departments, Environment and Climate Change (ECC) and Municipal and Community Affairs (MACA), have already launched reviews — what the GNWT is calling “after-action assessments” — into the decision-making surrounding last year’s catastrophe.
“The ECC review is the more technical one and it’s being done by a third-party contractor, and the MACA one is still finalizing the terms of reference,” Simpson explained. “This 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.”
However, those reviews may not be enough to satisfy the Dene Nation, particularly with another season of wildfires and “dire low water levels” approaching.
“Residents 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,” the Dene Nation’s Feb. 14 news release stated. “The 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.”
‘This inquiry makes a lot of sense’
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.
“As 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,” he said, calling last year’s fires “unprecedented.”
Yakeleya, who is married to Dehcho’s current MLA, heard Simpson push back against the notion of an inquiry earlier this month, and encouraged the premier to reevaluate his stance.
“The premier, if he has strong words of rebuilding relationships with Aboriginal governments of the North, I think he needs to reconsider his words, because it’s all about trust, it’s all about safety,” he said. “His cabinet’s got to reconsider and figure a way out how we can work together with our people.
“His officials [need to] not only think about dollars, they’ve got to look at the sense part, and this inquiry makes a lot of sense, because our lives, our homes, our communities are priceless.”
Yakeleya said the most important objective of a potential inquiry should be hearing from “the people who were affected” by the fires, and pointed specifically to residents of Enterprise.
“They’re hurting, they’re scared,” he said. “Give them the opportunity, give them voice to say what happened to them, to their homes, their families, their displacement.
“Someone’s got to be held accountable, and this public inquiry, if it’s put together properly can address this.”