The Yellowknives Dene First Nation (YKDFN) is giving notice to houseboaters that unauthorized use within its traditional boundaries won't be tolerated.
image courtesy of the YKDFN
YKDFN issued a strongly worded message in a Monday news release to house boaters set up on its side of the bay this year that the First Nation "takes issue with unauthorized land and water occupancy within Yellowknives Dene Traditional Chief Drygeese Asserted Community Area."
The news release states that "unauthorized occupancy are disrespectful to YKDFN" and reminds residents that the Yellowknives have existed as a sovereign nation since before the establishment of the City of Yellowknife.
The release also references Aboriginal rights, protected under Section 35 of the Canadian Constitution, and calls unauthorized occupancy an infringement and disregard of those rights.
"We take this opportunity to specifically inform and give general notice to existing and potential house boaters with the intention to anchor on our side of the Bay that YKDFN will not tolerate any unauthorized occupancy, both on our lands and waters," states the release.
Chief Ernest Betsina said on Monday that there have been an unprecedented amount of house boaters that have set up on the YKDFN side of the bay this year and no permission had been granted.
"My membership, which is our eyes and ears out there, have advised me that there are houseboaters out there on the east side of the bay and there seems to be more of them now," he said. "There are basically five or six that are in our area.
"I've noticed just this summer that they have more or less moved across to our side of the bay and parked right on the shore."
Betsina said YKDFN's priority is to serve members, including when or if there is interest in houseboats set up on its side of the bay. YKDFN chief and council have jurisdiction over land and water and there proper procedures for those wanting houseboats in the area.
YKDFN is planning to physically attend the sites to give formal notice that the houseboats cannot stay there and that occupants must respect the authority of chief and council.
"If we don't act on it – then guess what's going to happen – maybe at the end of this season or next season there will be more houseboats in our our traditional area," he said. "We don't want that."