Yellowknife, N.W.T. - The Dene Nation has come back from its Assembly meeting with a list of resolutions to solve some of the issues it faces today.

The one priority resolution is drafting a letter to Chief Justice Beverly McLaughlin of the Supreme Court of Canada, in reference to the Canadian government saying the nation is a part of the general population.

Dene National Chief Bill Erasmus said that this is not true, and that the Dene Nation's positions, titles and governments all need to be recognized.

"One instance they say 'yes you are governments, yes we have a certain responsibility with you', but then they act as if we don't exist. They act as if we're part of the general population, and the reality is we're not part of the general population."

Erasmus said that Canada is not enforcing legal rights, so they are going to the courts for their guidance.

"If there's a legal right, then it has to be enforced. Canada is not enforcing them so we want to ask the courts the best approach to assist us in having Canada enforce them."

Erasmus said this resolution is a priority because it affects all the other resolutions the nation has on the table.

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