Ottawa offer could clear major stumbling block to Mackenzie pipeline

Ottawa offer could clear major stumbling block to Mackenzie pipeline
Last Updated Wed, 31 May 2006 20:21:32 EDT
CBC News

The federal government has offered an aboriginal group in the Northwest Territories a land claims and self-government deal, which if accepted would remove a major stumbling block to the proposed Mackenzie Valley pipeline project.

The first response from the leadership of the Dehcho First Nations is that it's a "lowball" offer, but promising.

Indian and Northern Affairs Minister Jim Prentice announced Ottawa's offer at a meeting of the standing committee on aboriginal affairs Wednesday.

On a recent trip to the N.W.T., Prentice indicated an agreement wasn't needed for the pipeline to proceed.

http://www.cbc.ca/story/canada/national/2006/05/31/dehcho05312006.html