CBC North | News

NWT Akaitcho and Treaty 8 having second thoughts
WebPosted Mar 15 2002 08:46 AM MST

Yellowknife, N.W.T. - Chiefs in the Akaitcho region are having second thoughts about pulling out of the Benoit tax case. So are some Treaty 8 beneficiaries in the Northwest Territories.

Chiefs and beneficiaries spoke at a meeting in N'dilo.

They all spoke at a news conference in N'dilo Thursday, saying the decision to withdraw from the case is being reconsidered in light of last week's victory.
The federal court ruled that Gordon Benoit and all other Treaty 8 beneficiaries don't have to pay taxes because of promises made when the treaty was signed. The Akaitcho chiefs are calling that ruling an affirmation of their rights.
But the victory is hollow for Lorraine Catholique, a Treaty 8 beneficiary from Lutsel K'e.
"It's a big victory for Alberta Treaty 8, but sadly to say, we're not part of that victory," she says, referring to the Akaitcho pulling out of the tax case last May.

The federal government gave them an ultimatum to either continue with Benoit or drop the issue of taxation at the land claims table.
Sharon Venne is the region's assistant negotiator.
"We said, 'okay, we'll step out of Benoit' and then they said ... they can't discuss it because they're still in court," she explains. "So they're talking out of both sides of their mouth, so to speak."
Now some people at yesterday's news conference are having second thoughts about that decision.
Cindy Villeneuve of Fort Resolution believes the 29,000 beneficiaries of Treaty 8 should stand together.
"If people keep breaking off and saying I can't support this, I can't support that because of my own negotiations and stuff, then you know we're weaker," she says.
The chiefs are reconsidering the decision to withdraw too, especially since the taxation issue is going nowhere at the land claims table.
Peter Liske is chief of N'dilo.
"Next week we will affirm our position," says N'dilo chief Peter Liske.
All Treaty 8 chiefs from Alberta, Saskatchewan, B.C. and the Northwest Territories will meet in Edmonton next Friday to discuss the case.
Appeal
Meanwhile, the federal government is appealing the landmark court ruling that exempted Treaty 8 aboriginals from paying taxes even if they live off a reserve.
In making its ruling, the court said it took into account promises made during treaty negotiations with aboriginal people more than 100 years ago, but the government says the ruling creates uncertainty for individuals, employers and merchants.
Revenue Canada says that while it appeals the ruling, aboriginal people should pay taxes as usual, but while the case is before the courts, they should keep records of how much they pay.

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