At the time of Berger`s investigation, George Barnaby of Fort Good Hope was elected a member of the territorial council that represented the Mackenzie/Grand Bear area. He resigned during his tenure and was elected vice-president of the Indian Brotherhood of the NWT (now Dene Nation). He became a strong supporter of the general land agreement. The other was born as part of the Gwich`in, Sahtu and Tuch-final agreements and is referred in federal legislation by the Mackenzie Valley Resource Management Act. The Sahtu Renewable Renewable Board was the only organization created by the country of Claim. The other two boards were created five years later (1998) by the Mackenzie Valley Resource Management Act. The Act introduced an integrated land and water management system across regional borders, based on existing land agreements. The Gwich`in Resource Management Boards were created by law with the Mackenzie Valley Land and Water Board and the Mackenzie Valley Environmental Impact Board. As their names suggest, these last two councils are responsible for the Mackenzie Valley, including the Sahtu region.
The proposed amendments to the Petroleum Resources Act and the Oil and Gas Operations Act do not provide for any modification or replacement of the requirements of these rules or agreements. These councils include land and water management under agreements, and Mackenzie Valley bodies cover areas of the Northwest Territories where the Dehcho First Nations, Akaitcho First Nations, Acho Dene Koe First Nation and NWT Métis Nation continue to negotiate their rights and interests. More broadly, these agreements give the organizations responsible for these regions the opportunity to manage land and natural resources in their best interest. The Mackenzie Valley Resource Management Act also ensures that responsible practices in non-populated areas are followed in the NWT. Aboriginal lands and other natural resource management arrangements play an important role in land management in the Northwest Territories. Several agreements are under way and others are being negotiated. Unlike the provinces, the regulatory rules in the NWTs have arisen directly as a result of extensive land agreements and are based on the principles of integration, coordination and co-management. Aboriginal rights are integrated into the system. While the April 1 decentralization agreement gave the NWT government regulatory control of its country and resources, it was established that the Norman Wells Proven Area would remain under the jurisdiction of the National Energy Board.
