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Sign of disagreement in Hay River

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Garry Bailey: president of Northwest Territory Metis Nation says nobody seems to realize that there are Metis people in the South Slave. NNSL file photo

The Northwest Territory Metis Nation is planning to erect a sign welcoming people to its traditional territory at the junction of the Mackenzie Highway and Highway 5.

However, the sign is more than just a sign.

This is an illustration of a sign proposed by the Northwest Territory Metis Nation for the junction of Highway 2 and Highway 5. image courtesy of Northwest Territory Metis Nation

"The purpose of the sign is to just make people aware who's in the area," said Garry Bailey, the president of the Metis Nation. "It does welcome them in, for sure, but you see signs that are out there already. It seems like nobody seems to realize that there's Metis around. There's not enough recognition being given to the Metis. People are always opposing us, so maybe it's time that we put out signs that show it's our traditional territory."

Bailey added that it's "shared" traditional territory.

The Northwest Territory Metis Nation includes Metis councils in Hay River, Fort Smith and Fort Resolution, which are communities that also include First Nations.

Bailey said he doesn't know if there will be opposition to the sign from First Nations, which were not advised of the Metis sign-building plan.

"I couldn't predict what they're going to do. I don't try to do that," he said. "We have our inherent rights, as well, just like anybody else. We have Section 35 rights. We have rights to land. We have rights within our traditional territory. All we're doing is letting people know where our territory is. I'm not going to go and ask them for permission to put up a sign in my traditional territory."

Garry Bailey: president of Northwest Territory Metis Nation says nobody seems to realize that there are Metis people in the South Slave. NNSL file photo

One First Nation leader who is not impressed with the plan for the sign is Chief Roy Fabian of K'atlodeeche First Nation.

"They need to think about that," said Fabian when asked about the plan, which he had not been advised of by the Metis Nation.

"For us, this is our traditional territory and it's exclusive," he said. "And so we've been challenging Canada and the Metis Nation that they do not have rights in our traditional territory."

The chief noted KFN has a sign welcoming people to its traditional territory at the NWT/Alberta border.

"Our traditional territory starts somewhere at the border," he said, adding that the eastern boundary of KFN's traditional territory – under an agreement with Deninu Ku'e First Nation in Fort Resolution – is the junction of Highway 5 and Highway 6 to Fort Resolution.

The Metis Nation has plans for other welcome signs.

"We're going to put up some more, but we wanted to put up one big one first and then we're going to get some smaller ones," said Bailey, adding the locations of the smaller signs have yet to be determined.

On Aug. 7, a delegation from the Northwest Territory Metis Nation appeared before Hay River Town Council to explain the plan for the sign.

Council was told that the target to erect the sign is mid-September.

The metal sign – featuring an image of a wolf howling at the moon – would be almost five metres wide and about two metres high, and five metres off the ground.

It would feature the logos of the three Metis councils in the South Slave.

The sign will be on GNWT land, and the town was asked if it had any technical concerns about the location, which it doesn't.