No Prospecting Permits on Dehcho Lands This Year
FORT SIMPSON – Feb. 6 – There will be no prospecting permits issued for Dehcho territory in 2007. This announcement was made today by Grand Chief Herb Norwegian of the Dehcho First Nation, following a letter, Feb. 1, from the supervising mining recorder of Indian and Northern Affairs.
“In light of the ongoing negotiations leading to an Agreement in Principle, our decision this year is to not issue prospecting permits in the Dehcho territory,” wrote Karen Polakoff, the mining recorder.
Norwegian said that while he appreciated this announcement and saw it as a “small victory” he wondered why similar permits had been issued during the previous two years and why Canada could now recognize section 39 of the Interim Measures Agreement in 2007 but not previously. Section 39 of the IMA (2001) states that there should be no new prospecting permits issued in Dehcho territory without DFN approval.
“While we appreciate that Canada has honoured this agreement this year and see that as a positive development, we trust it will not be broken again as it was for the last two years,” Norwegian said.
For further information: Grand Chief Herb Norwegian 867-695-2355/2610