Royal Commission on Aboriginal Peoples: Presentation by Deninu Kue First Nation, Closing Prayer

The file contains a presentation Chief Bernadette Unka of the Deninu Kue First Nation. Chief Unka discusses the history of her people who reside at Fort Resolution, NWT. Chief Unka discusses how Treaty, Metis, and Euro-Canadian people were at one time united in one government at the community, but how her people re-established band governance in 1990 due to their Treaty rights being slowly eroded. Chief Unka then discusses the need for self-responsibility and self-management amongst her people. Included in this is a discussion of intergovernmental relations, jurisdictional issues, the need for training and education, language and cultural issues, taxation, and environmental issues. Specifically Chief Unka takes issue with hydroelectric and mining operations in her people's territory which have brought few economic benefits and much destruction to the area. Following the presentation Commissioner Georges Erasmus discusses Treaty Eight issues with Chief Unka, after which he delivers closing remarks and a closing prayer concludes the day's sitting of the Commission.