Common ground, but no agreement reached with Dehcho: Imperial

The main advocate of a proposed natural gas pipeline through the Northwest Territories says it has not struck an official pact with a group of holdout First Nations, though aboriginal officials say a deal is on the table.

A spokesman for Calgary-based Imperial Oil told CBC News on Tuesday that it has found some common ground with the Dehcho First Nations, but it has not reached a tentative agreement in principle on land access.

Ria Letcher, executive director for the Dehcho, told the Canadian Press on Monday that leaders will look at details of a draft benefits and land access package as negotiators visit communities over the next week.

Leaders will discuss a ratification vote next week at a Dehcho leadership convention in Fort Simpson, N.W.T.

Dehcho Grand Chief Gerry Antoine would not say much about what negotiators will bring to the table, but he said Dehcho leaders will be consulted before any agreement is finalized.

"The [negotiating] committee feels comfortable with where things are at. However, one of their responsibilities is that they need to inform the communities," Antoine told CBC News.

"That's what they are doing. The next thing is that they need to present it to the leadership."

The Dehcho claim traditional lands in the southwest corner of the Northwest Territories that would be part of the right of way for Imperial Oil's proposed 1,220-kilometre pipeline.

The claim covers about 40 per cent of the pipeline's projected route. The Dehcho First Nations are one of the only remaining aboriginal groups along the route that has not expressed support for it.

The Dehcho's position has long been to hold off making any development and land-access deals until a satisfactory land-use plan is in place, and negotiations with the federal government on land rights have been resolved.

However, talks between the Dehcho and the federal government have been moving slowly, and are currently at an impasse.

"The position has always been — of course, for leveraging purposes — is to maintain the elders' direction and just stand firm," said Herb Norwegian, a former Dehcho grand chief.

"But I guess the new leadership has taken a different approach on this."

Elders like Gabe Hardisty said some people may be anxious to benefit from the opportunities arising from development, but added that nothing should happen until a land-use plan for the region is finalized.

"Land-use planning in our Dehcho is priority one," Hardisty said. "I'm not looking at the pipeline right now."

Last month, federal Environment Minister Jim Prentice said the government has offered an undisclosed amount for infrastructure and pre-construction costs, as well as a sharing of risks and returns.

Such developments have been rare for the $16.2-billion project, which has long been stalled in the regulatory process.

The project is currently awaiting approval by the Joint Review Panel, an independent, seven-person body that has to review the environmental and socio-economic impacts of the pipeline.

A panel spokesman told CBC News it won't release its findings until the end of this year.