Release: Racist Violence and Vandalism Encouraged by RCMP and GNWT Inaction
Fort Simpson, NWT – September 26, 2025 – The Leadership of the Dehcho First Nations held an emergency meeting today to decide what action they will take to address a violent and dangerous situation that has developed at Lindberg Landing located on the Liard Highway in the Dehcho Territory. Grand Chief Herb Norwegian has called into question the inaction of both the RCMP and the GNWT regarding the situation.
Earlier this week heavy equipment belonging to Nogah Enterprises of Fort Simpson, a Dehcho First Nations company carrying out work at the Lindberg Landing site was severely vandalized on at least two occasions. Damages are estimated to be in excess of $100,000.
Norwegian believes that unidentified squatters living illegally on the property had blocked Dehcho citizens’ access to the site by erecting a locked gate. Nogah was on site to remove the gate pursuant to a court order when the vandalism took place.
Norwegian pointed out that the RCMP were on site at the same time pursuant to the same court order, but they vacated the site before the work was completed and the vandalism took place as soon as they left. When asked by the CBC if they would be investigating the crime, the RCMP reportedly said they would not. In a shocking dereliction of duty, they are quoted by the CBC as saying that the GNWT would be the “designated investigative unit” to look into the crime. Since the GNWT does not have any such “investigative unit,” the RCMP have effectively announced that such attacks and vandalism aimed at Dene in our own homeland will not be investigated or prosecuted. Indeed, very soon after the RCMP announced that they would not be investigating, another serious act of vandalism occurred.
Norwegian is also pointing a finger at the GNWT for failing to uphold its own laws and legal agreements signed with the Dehcho First Nations. He says their failure to honour existing agreements with the DFN and failure to act on historical grievances has fostered the current situation and emboldened people to break the law.
He says this abdication of legal responsibility by both the national police force and the territorial government to protect the interests and safety of Dehcho citizens is “racism, pure and simple”. At their meeting today the Dehcho Leadership passed a unanimous resolution authorizing the Grand Chief to take whatever action may be necessary to protect Dene people and Dene lands.
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For more information, please call Grand Chief Herb Norwegian at (867) 695-6607.