3 N.W.T. First Nations mull electoral boundaries court action

AN.W.T. Supreme Court judge has set Aug.12 as the date to hear the City of Yellowknife's challenge of current electoral boundaries.

Meanwhile,other groups thatdon'tlike the new electoral mapare also mulling court action but for different reasons from the city.

The Yellowknives Dene, Fort Resolutionand LutselK'e First Nations which are now lumped together in the same riding of Tu Nedheare opposed to the amalgamationfor cultural reasons.

Tu Nedhe MLA Tom Beaulieu says Yellowknife isn't making that argument.

"If they're saying that Bill 18 [which established the new boundaries]is goodbut don't think it's gone far enough and that's the indication I got from the mayor then we're not supporting Bill 18 at all from TuNedhe," he said.

Beaulieu's traditionally Chipewyan-speaking riding was the smallest in the territory.

He says it doesn't make sense to make the Weledeh-speaking Yellowknives Dene part of it.

The Yellowknives, Lutsel K'e and Fort Resolution bands are hiring a lawyer to decide whether to join the Yellowknife challenge or mount one of their own.