Page 1
Page 2
Page 3
Page 4
Page 5
Page 6
Page 7
Page 8
Page 9
Page 10
Page 11
Page 12
Page 13
Page 14
Page 15
Page 16
DehchoFirstNationspushforProcessWithnegotiationsontheDe-hchoProcessatastandstillPehdzehKiFirstNationthreat-ensthefutureoftheMacken-zieValleybreopticlineuntilpartiescanreturntothetable.Seepage3.InukplaywrightsearchesforTookoolitoNWTwriterandactorRenel-ttaArluksharesherprocessforturningthelifeandtimesofInukguideandexplorerTookoolitointoaplay.Seepage16.LEARNINGONTHELANDJBTElementarystudentsheadtowintercamp.Seephotosonpage15.SkaterstaketooutdooriceforPockeytourneyOver170athletesgearedupandheadedtoHayRiverfortheannualpondhockeycompetition.Seepage8.WBNPbisonresearchhaltedbyAboriginalgroupsResearchseekingalternativemethodstotestforbovinetuberculosisandbrucellosisisinjeopardyafterscientistsfailedtoconductproperconsultation.Seepage6.VISITWWW.NORJ.CAAnationalawardwinningindependentnewspaperservingnorthernAlbertaandtheNorthwestTerritoriessince19771.00March242015Vol.38No.45NWTAlbertasigntransboundarywateragreementtoprotectMackenzieRiverByDALICARMICHAELOver16yearsofhardworkandcoordinationculminatedlastweekasmembersoftheGNWTandtheAlbertagovernmentcametogetherinEdmontonofficiallysigningontoprotecttheirsharedwatershed.NWTPremierBobMcLeodEn-vironmentandNaturalResourcesMinisterMichaelMiltenbergerandtheirAlbertacounterpartsPremierJimPrenticeandEn-vironmentandSustainableDe-velopmentMinisterKyleFaw-cettsignedtheMackenzieRiverBasinBilateralWaterManage-mentAgreementonMar.18.Withthosesignatures85percentofthebasinisofficiallyprotectedbytransboundaryagreements.Waterdoesntrecognizepoliti-calboundariesandifwewantahealthyenvironmentandahealthyprosperousfutureweneedtobeworkingtogetherMcLeodsaid.ThishasbeenalongtoughandchallengingprocesswherewevepushedourselvesasjurisdictionstofindcommongroundMilt-enbergersaid.Normallywaterissuesofthisnaturearelitigatedandfoughtoverbutthisagree-mentisfundamentallyatesta-menttoourlongstrongsharedhistorycommonlandscapeandculturaleconomicandfamilytiesthatbindus.Withthesigningofthebilateralagreementthepartieshavebothcommittedtosustainablymanagethebasininawaythatmaintainsitsecologicalintegrity.Italsoensureseffectivecommu-nicationoccursbetweenthetwopartiesregardingresourcedevelop-mentprojectsthatmightimpactthebasinsaquaticecosystems.Whileeachprovincemaintainstherighttousethewaterresourcesinitsjurisdictiontheymustparticipateinearlyandeffectiveconsultationnoticationandsharingofinfor-mationonanywaterdevelopmentsalongthewatershed.ThisincludesproperconsultationwithAboriginalgroupswhoseinputlargelycontributedtothedevelop-mentoftheagreement.Thedealbuildsoffthe1997MackenzieRiverBasinTrans-boundaryWatersMasterAgree-mentsignedbythegovernmentsofBritishColumbiaAlbertaSas-katchewantheNWTandYukon.Shortlyafteritwasenactedtheagreementwasmostlyforgottenaboutforthebetterpartofade-cadeMiltenbergersaid.Abouteightyearsagowegotveryseriousaboutwaterandwespentfouryearsdoingthewaterstrategyinthelastgovernmentandstartedthistermwithactualnegotiationshesaid.SeeAgreementonpage3.Waterdoesntrecognizepoliticalboundariesandifwewantahealthyenvironmentandahealthyprosperousfutureweneedtobeworkingtogether.PremierBobMcLeodPhotoDaliCarmichaelWinners2700richerDespitebeingbetweentheagesof14and19theseyoungBechokomenexcelledintheclevercraftofdeceivingtheiropponentstheentertainingheartofDenehandgames.ForstoryandphotosoftheFortSmitheventheadtopage9.