Acho Dene Koe First Nation looks to merge with Fort Liard’s hamlet

The Acho Dene Koe First Nation is exploring the idea of merging with the municipality of Fort Liard to form a single local government.

The First Nation’s chief and council first indicated during negotiations with the GNWT several years ago that it would seek to form one government on signing a self-government agreement, said acting band manager Boyd Clark.

Self-government negotiations have been ongoing for nearly two decades, with a framework agreement signed in July 2008.

More recently, ADKFN has been looking to move up the timeline for amalgamation, which Clark said would help streamline things like emergency response and provision of services.

He said having one government would “be more effective and efficient.”

“There are a number of examples in the Northwest Territories like Délı̨nę, for example, where there’s only one government that’s in existence,” said Clark, “and their governance is far more effective – and their access to funding and relationships at territorial and federal level is more efficient – than what we have.”

Clark said the current governance structure has created confusion for residents.

“The vast majority of the community is members of the First Nation, so their logical relationship is to chief and council — to their elected leaders — and they often become frustrated because when they go to have their concerns addressed, they’re redirected to somebody else,” said Clark.

One of the ways this could move forward, he said, is if the hamlet council were to endorse the amalgamation and hold a plebiscite (a vote or referendum) to understand the wishes of the community.

Fort Liard will hold a municipal election on December 9, which means there could be new hamlet leadership in place by January. Clark said the GNWT has committed to providing educational resources to the community to help move the process along in the new year.

He said the First Nation envisages a solution where hamlet employees become ADKFN employees. “The budget of the of the hamlet, and all its assets and infrastructure, would transfer to the First Nation as well,” he said.

While amalgamation would remove the duplication of some services – and therefore some staff positions – Clark said the intent is that everyone would have a role in the new government, even if that might mean a new role.

In a emailed statement, NWT government spokesperson Peter Tah confirmed a discussion about potential amalgamation took place at an intergovernmental meeting between the Acho Dene Koe First Nation and the GNWT on November 7. The GNWT directed all other questions to the First Nation.

Cabin Radio approached Chief Eugene Hope, Mayor of Fort Liard Cathy Gonet and the hamlet’s senior administrative officer, John McKee, for comment, but had not heard back by the time of publication.