Dehcho First Nations appoint new chief negotiator for land claim process

The Grand Chief of the Dehcho First Nations says now is the time to get land claim negotiations going again.

The Dehcho First Nationshave just appointed a new chief negotiator, Yellowknife lawyer Garth Wallbridge,tonegotiatealand claim with the territorial government.

"He's aboriginal;he's Metis, and he's done bits and pieces of work withjust about all the First Nations in Yellowknife and probably throughout the territories," saidHerb Norwegian, Dehcho First NationsGrand Chief.

"When we put the questions to him, he had good background and could draw a pretty good picture on what we thought were important."

Wallbridge replaces Georges Erasmus, who stepped down last September after talks stalled. Erasmus spent 12 years negotiating the land claim.

The Dehcho First Nations are holding public workshops about the process Feb.9-11in Fort Simpson.