Sahtu Secretariat annual meeting kicks off in Fort Good Hope, N.W.T.

The need for a winter road and the high cost of living are expected to be the major topics discussed at the Sahtu Secretariat Inc.'s (SSI) annual general meeting in Fort Good Hope, N.W.T. 

The meeting is a chance for leaders from the various Sahtu communities to highlight accomplishments and talk about challenges they face, and for members to check on the work of the organization.

SSI is the organization responsible for administering the Sahtu Dene and Métis Land Claim Agreement. It is formed by the seven Sahtu land corporations — four Dene land corporations and three Métis land corporations.

The two-day event kicked off on Tuesday and is expected to wrap up on Wednesday.  

One of the major issues already mentioned has been the high cost of living in the region, being made worse by the lack of barge shipments due to low water levels. 

"The cost of living is soaring," said Charles McNeely, chairperson for SSI. 

"Now we got a shortage of fuel in the Sahtu, so those are our main concerns." 

The need for an all-season road to the community was another subject that will be discussed, McNeely said. 

Lesa Semmler, N.W.T. health minister, along with Jay Macdonald, the minister of Environment and Climate Change, and Danny McNeely, Sahtu MLA, are all in attendance for the meeting. 

"It's a pleasure to be able to visit the Sahtu and hear directly from the people of the Sahtu and to hear their priorities and concerns," said Semmler. 

The two-day event will include an election for chairperson. This three-year position oversees the SSI board, but doesn't have voting rights. 

McNeely says he plans to run again.  

Paulie Chinna, former Sahtu MLA, says she also plans to run for SSI chairperson. 

The annual general meeting was originally planned for early August, but was rescheduled because of the community's evacuation due to wildfires. 

McNeely said many in the community appear to be happy to have everyone gathered together again.