Lawsuit attacks Northwest Territories resource rules, devolution deal

YELLOWKNIFE – Northern aboriginals have filed a lawsuit against Ottawa that claimschanges to rules on resource development violate recently signed self-government treaties.

The lawsuit comes after nearly a decade of simmering anger over what some have said is the federal government’s desire to reduce local control over development in the Northwest Territories.

It also strikes at the heart of the agreement between the territory and Ottawa that resulted in the N.W.T. getting province-like control over its land and resources.

The Tli Cho (TLEE’-choh) aboriginal government, which controls land between Great Slave and Great Bear lakes, wants the new regulatory board created by devolution declared invalid.

It alleges the board reduces the Tli Cho’s control over its land, which was supposed to be guaranteed in the self-government deal.

The board was created by the same legislation that enacted devolution for the N.W.T.