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Tlicho in court to save Wek'eezhii Land and Water Board

The Tlicho filed the lawsuit against the federal government in May after a law was passed to phase out regional land and water boards in the N.W.T., including the Wek'eezhii Land and Water Board.

The Tlicho government is in court in Yellowknife today arguing to save the Wek'eezhii Land and Water Board.

The Tlicho filed the lawsuit against the federal government after the Northwest Territories Devolution Act was passed earlier this year. It included amendments to the Mackenzie Valley Resource Management Act that will phase out regional land and water boards in the N.W.T., including the Wek'eezhii Land and Water Board.

The boards are scheduled to be merged into one superboard in April 2015.

The Tlicho have said the federal government failed to properly consult them about the change and that it violates their land claim and self-government agreement signed in 2003.

Two days have been set aside for the hearing.