Territories leader has ties to Lethbridge, university

Today, the map of Canada is changed forever.

The Northwest territories in Canada's Arctic completely
disappeared from the map at midnight. In its place are
two distrinct territories - the western Northwest Territories
and Nunavut (pronounced Noonahvoot), meaning "our
land" in Inuktitut.

Less than 24 hours before the historic change, Northwest
Territories Premier Jim Antoine is relaxed about , and
challenged by, the future.
former University of Lethbridge management student told
The Herald Wednesday from his office in Yellowknife.
"There's mixed feelings, of course. We call it the creation
of two new territories."

"It's a whole new beginning for all of us."

While the notion of diving the NWT may seem new to some
Canadians, it isn't to residents of Canada's Arctic. The
concept goes back to the 1950s when non-aboriginals in the
Mackenzie Valley pushed to divide the territory, arguing the
move would allow the west to move more rapidly to responsible
government. In 1963, the federal government introduced
legislation to divide the Northwest Territories into the
Mackenzie and Nunassiaq territories. But later the same year,
the legislation died on the order paper.

The ultimate goal,said Antoine, is for the new western
territory to move toward becoming a province.

"The Inuit people wanted their own territory and we have
supported them."

"People are happy. The people in Nunavut are happy.
we have reached a milestone and its time to turn our
attention and energies to making things better."

Antoine looks forward to a day when the western territory
becomes self-supporting.

"We are going to be three territories - the Yukon, the
western Northwest Territories and Nunavut - we are not
a province. We don't have the same type of power and
authority as the provinces enjoy. Our natural resources
are controlled by Ottawa."

There are two significant differences between the provinces
and territories; the system of government and the election
process. The NWT is not governed under the same party
politics system which exists in each of the provinces.

After an election, the members select one member to the
position of speaker and another as speaker and another
as premier.

Nunavut has adopted the same system. Its premeir-elect
is Paul Okalik.

The provinces differ in their legislative powers also, said
Antoine. The provinces have the power to amend their
consitutions and control the management and sale of
public lands. Not so in the territories. Only the parliament
has the right to amend the provisions of the Norhwest
Territories Act, a federal statute.

Becoming a province is the "ultimate goal," said Antoine.
"We depend on the federal government for an annual
financial grant to run the Northwest Territories. That's
how they will do it in Nunavut and it's how they do it in
the Yukon. Eventually we will become a province controlling
our own natural resources and benefitting from them.

"I don't know when that will be, it might be way after my time."

With Nunavut, the people of the eastern Arctic, mostly Inuit,
will run their own affairs centred from Iqaluit on Baffin Island
rather than Yellowknife. The government of Nunavut will be
much more responsive to the Inuit people.

The western territory will continue to provide some programs
and services in Nunavut until it can develop its own. It will
be some time, said Antoine, before Nunavut will have enough
trained people to fill its government jobs.

Antoine will attend ceremonies in Iqaluit with Prime Minister
Jean Chretien and other government dignitaries today.

Antoine, who represents the Nahendeh constituency, was
initially elected to the legislature assembly in 1991 and
re-elected by acclamation in 1995. He was elected
premier on Dec. 10, 1998.

"Things are really interesting," he said of the times. This
marks the first time Canada's map has changed since
Newfoundland joined confederation in 1949, the year
Antoine was born.

"I am totally committed to this work along with my cabinet
colleagues," he said.

Still ahead for the western territory is a decision on an
official name. MLAs have agreed the name Northwest
Territories will continue to be used until such time as
residents are asked to vote on a new constitution.

Antoine didn't always aspire to politics.

Prior to studying at the University of Wisconsin and
earning a management certificate at the University of
Lethbridge in 1988, Antoine was chief of the Fort
Simpson Dene Band.

He returned to his home town of Fort Simpson and
bought a service station.

"That's the kind of thing where you work for the bank,"
he said.

He returned to politics, serving another term as chief.
He assisted in the development of the Deh Cho Regional
Council and the Deh Cho Tribal Council, now called the
Deh Cho First Nations. He also worked as executive
director for both organizetions.

He was president of Nogha Enterprises, owned by the Fort
Simspson Dene Band Developement Corporation. In 1987,
he co-ordinated the Papal visit to Fort Simpson.