Łútsël K’é chief ready to rebuild relationship with GNWT after premier’s apology

Łútsël K’é Dene First Nation Chief James Marlowe says the community is ready to move forward with the GNWT after an in-person apology for the 2022 raid of a cultural camp. 

The CBC initially reported Marlowe was disappointed with the apology from Premier RJ Simpson. When Cabin Radio spoke with the chief on Wednesday after he had a meeting with the premier and territorial officials about next steps, he said he was “happy with what [Simpson] did.”

“I think now it’s time for us to move forward and work together in a positive working relationship, and see that these types of events do not ever happen again in our community or our traditional area,” said Marlowe.

Simpson issued a written apology to the First Nation in April for a raid by territorial wildlife officers at a cultural camp on Artillery Lake, but Marlowe questioned the sincerity of that apology and said an apology should be delivered in the community.

Marlowe said Wednesday’s meeting focused on establishing a working relationship between the Łútsël K’é Dene First Nation and the territorial government.

“We went through the whole process of how we can work together, how we can build a working relationship, and also to help each other and work together for the people of Łútsël K’é again in the future,” he said.

But Marlowe said the apology itself did not include commitments to specific programs or assistance for the community. 

He said community members have called for healing, drug and alcohol, social and recreational programs to address impacts from the raid. 

“If the premier is true to his words, he would fulfill his obligation for us to work together and build a working relationship for the future,” Marlowe told Cabin Radio.

Marlowe also pointed to concerns about caribou meat that was seized during the raid. 

He said Elders who spoke during Tuesday’s gathering when Simpson issued the apology want the meat that was taken returned, while community members have raised concerns that some of the meat returned by territorial officials had spoiled. 

In a written statement to Cabin Radio, Simpson said the territorial government’s independent review of wildlife officers’ conduct during the raid remains unfinished and the review period has been extended several times to allow community members who were present at Timber Bay to participate.

“To date, those interviews have not taken place,” Simpson said. 

He said the community’s perspective is important to ensure the review provides a “full and accurate account” of what happened. 

“The review is also intended to provide the GNWT with an independent and objective assessment that can help identify areas for improvement and inform any systemic changes that may be needed.” Simpson said. 

Marlowe said the First Nation also wants assurance that an incident like the 2022 raid will “never ever happen to our people again.”

He said the GNWT should approach the First Nation and leadership before entering their traditional territory around Artillery Lake for similar activities.

“Our people were out on the land practicing their way of life,” he said. 

For now, Marlowe said the focus is on establishing the working relationship discussed with the premier and seeing what comes from that commitment. 

“Once [that] relationship is granted and a working relationship is established, that’s when good things happen,” he said. 

“We want to keep it that way and participate in things that are good for the community and people.”