The calling of a federal election has suspended negotiations over land, resources and governance, Dehcho First Nations said in a Sunday press release.
The Dehcho Process is a long-running set of negotiations designed to result in self-government for the Indigenous communities of the NWT’s Dehcho region.
Those negotiations heavily involve the federal government, but Ottawa has entered a hiatus period with the federal election now under way.
A negotiation session that had been scheduled for Monday will not now take place, DFN said on Sunday.
“Canada has informed Dehcho First Nations negotiations of the Dehcho Process will be suspended until after the federal election and a new government is sworn in,” Sunday’s press release stated.
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“It usually takes about two months after the new government has begun for federal negotiators to receive a green light to proceed with whatever new negotiations policies are put in place.”
Dehcho negotiators will use the time to “work on internal matters” such as the Dehcho constitution and provide updates to community leaders and residents, DFN added.
A further update is expected at June’s annual Dehcho Assembly.
“Negotiations are expected to resume in mid-summer,” the press release concluded.
Other negotiations in the NWT involving the federal government are expected to be similarly paused until after a new government has been sworn in.
