Pehdzeh Ki First Nation threatens to block GNWT fibre optic line

ThePehdzehKiFirst Nation has threatened to block the Government of Northwest Territories' installation of a fibre optic line through their community of Wrigley, N.W.T., as a response toGNWT"bully tactics" during land claim negotiations.

"We will not be able to accommodate nor support this project crossing over asserted traditional lands till such time theGNWTresolves the impasse with theDehchoFirst Nations," saysPehdzehKiFirst Nation Chief TimLennie.

"I'm very disappointed in the government's inability to adequately deal with our land rights issues. We've been given a take it or leave it offer from the government that we do not support."

Ledcor, the company that is building the fibre optic line for the territorial government, says the installation of theportion of the line running fromMcGillLake to Wrigley isn't planned to start until July.

When asked what will happen when the fibre optic team arrives in the community,Lenniesaid, "They're just not welcome.

"If they want to continue to come and push their fibre optics links,we'll see what happens."

Last week,DehchoFirst Nations Grand Chief Herb Norwegiancalled the territorial government's negotiations with the First Nations an "ultimatum."

The territorial government offered theDehchoFirst Nations 37,000 square kilometres of their traditional territory, with only surface rights, as well as royalties of about 18 per cent on the land. TheDehchoare asking for 50,000 square kilometres of land, with surface and subsurface rights.

In a letter to theDehcho, the territorial government saidthat's as flexible as it can be, and if that offer isn't good enough, then both parties should "acknowledge that negotiations have failed."

TheDehchoProcess, which is the name of the ongoing land claim negotiations, has been going on since 2001. In 2012, thePehdzehKiwalked away from the negotiations, stating that nothing had happened since day one of the process.

In January of this year, theterritorial government began work on an $82 million fibre optic cable, designed to bring high speed Internet to communities across the N.W.T. The proposed route for the line, which will measure between 1,100 and 1,200 kilometres and run along the Mackenzie Valley all the way to the Arctic Ocean, goes through Wrigley.

Lenniehas written a letter to the government indicating the fibre optic project will not proceed, andPehdzehKirepresentatives have told Government of the Northwest Territories employees they are no longer welcome in the First Nation's traditional territory.

"Devolution seems to be a mistake," saysLennie. "TheGNWTis drunk with power. They need to adjust their views and recognize that theDehchoDeneare the owners of our land. We are prepared to negotiate a fair agreement with them, but these bully tactics make it very difficult to see a way forward other than through the courts."

In an emailed statement, the Government of the Northwest Territories says it "does not feel that allegations exchanged in the media is serving the people of theDehchowell.

"We have made a generous offer to the DFN that is consistent with previously settled claims throughout the N.W.T. and encourage them to consider it. Details of that offer have been made public in the interests of clearing up confusion and misinformation about the GNWT offer, but we believe that negotiations should be conducted in a forum specifically intended for that purpose."

Ledcor, the company constructing the fibre optic line, says the cable buildwon't be in the Wrigley area for months. This summer'sinstallation work is slated tostartat McGill Lake and endat Wrigley, with work beginning in July.