Athabasca Chipewyan voice strengthened as member of Dene Nation

Shared blood, shared language and shared concerns have brought the Athabasca Chipewyan First Nation in to the folds of the Dene Nation.

“We’ll have a lot stronger voice once we come together and unify ourselves as one voice,” said ACFN Chief Allan Adam.

Issues that need a strong voice include water quality and quantity and woodland caribou habitat.

“The water comes from the south and we’re downstream from the development. In the early days it was pulp mills. Now it’s tar sands,” said Bill Erasmus, Dene National Chief.

ACFN approached the Dene National Assembly last year about membership in the Dene Nation.

“We’re Dene,” said Adam of the request. “We don’t have a lot of voice in the area because we’re in Alberta but being part of the voice of the Dene Nation only increases our potential to be stronger allies together.”

Erasmus pointed out that the nation was all one before borders were drawn in 1905 dividing Alberta and the Northwest Territories. He also noted that many members of the ACFN have family in NWT and they are all part of Treaty 8.

ACFN’s request for membership was debated at the Dene Nation’s annual general meeting held in Fort Providence in July. Among the issues discussed was ongoing land negotiations the Dene are having with the federal government.

Erasmus said the Dene Nation consists of regions and ACFN would have fallen within the Akaitcho region. However, the decision was made for the ACFN not to be part of a specific region, although Erasmus expects neighbouring regions to invite ACFN to regional meetings.

“We’ve come on as an independent First Nation. We won’t be joining in their negotiations,” said Adam.
As an independent member of the Dene Nation, the ACFN have all the same rights and privileges of other member nations.

Once that distinction was made, chiefs and representatives voted unanimously to approve ACFN’s membership.

“We bring a lot of knowledge with us. On how we deal with the government, on how we force the government to the table when we have to deal with issues,” said Adam.

ACFN recently experienced success when the federal court ordered Environment Canada to take action to protect the woodland caribou. ACFN had joined with two other Alberta First Nations in litigation. The action was supported by the Dene Nation.

“Those caribou are north of 60, too. The judge’s decision implies that we need to be involved in the planning,” said Erasmus.

Also on the table for ACFN is a battle with the provincial government over the Lower Athabasca Regional Plan.
“We’re ready to launch litigation and all of Treaty 8 in Alberta have said they will join us in litigation,” said Adam.

With the issues facing First Nations, Erasmus sees the inclusion of the ACFN with the Dene Nation as the right time.

“It strengthens us as individuals, as family, as communities, as a nation. The more numbers you have, the stronger you are, more of a voice you have. This brings us together as a nation,” said Erasmus.