Houseboaters 'squatting' on Yellowknives Dene First Nation's side of bay must leave, chief says

The Yellowknives Dene First Nation is warning houseboaters current and future that it won't tolerate those who anchor on the nation's side of Yellowknife Bay.

In a statement issued on Monday, the First Nation says it takes issue with the unauthorized land and water occupancy within the Yellowknives Dene Traditional Chief Drygeese Asserted Community Area.

In particular, it called out houseboaters that established themselves within the area.

"These acts of unauthorized occupancy are disrespectful to YKDFN, a sovereign nation, who have occupied and used the area since time immemorial: before even the existence of the City of Yellowknife," the statement reads in part.

Chief Ernest Betsinasays members of the YKDFNnotified him of five to six houseboats in theirterritory. He says the houseboaters will be served with a noticeto move shortly.

He says he wants them gone before Great Slave Lakefreezes. He saysthe window to askchief and council for permission to anchor there hasclosed.

Betsinasays it seems there are more houseboaters each year.

"There's about five to six houseboaters out there that more or less are squatting ... without chief or council permission," Betsina said. He believes the homesarrived sometime over the summer.

It's not the first time this has happened, Betsina said. In a previous incident, he said the water froze beforethe houseboatercouldleave.

"We do not want to repeat that," he said.

The nation's statement says the unauthorized dwellers are an infringement of the nation's rights,protected under the Canadian Constitution.

"We will continue to assert our treaty rights and sovereignty as long as the sun shines, the river flows, and the grass grows."