Deline voters head to the polls on self-government deal

The Deline First Nation in the Northwest Territories is voting this week on a deal that could create the first community-based self-government in the territory.

Polls are open in Delineon Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m.

The Deline First Nation has been pushing hard to get out the vote, asking its some 700 members to show their support for the agreement, including almost half of the First Nations members who dont live in Deline.

More than half of the First Nations membership hasto vote yes to seal the deal. Not voting is essentially the same as a no vote.

The community is flying charter flights from Yellowknife on Wednesday to make sure as many people as possible cast their ballots.

The deal stems from the Sahtu Dene and Metis Comprehensive Land Claim document signed in 1992 by the Sahtu regional government. That document sets out that each Sahtu Community would negotiate their own self-government agreement, and so far Deline is the community closest to a final agreement.

Deline's agreement-in-principle was signed on Aug.23 last year.If ratified, the deal would become a treaty in the eyes of the federal government.Members of Deline would become citizens of Deline.

The agreement will amalgamate the three bodies that currently govern the communityintoone governing body called theDelineGotineGovernment. It will hold power overthings like liquor and gaming regulation, language and culture, education, adoption, social housing, income support, tourism and land use planning.