Yellowknife, N.W.T. - The Dene Nation is getting set for its annual leadership meeting in Inuvik this week.

The theme for the meeting is "Making Treaties Work in 2012" and will deal with how Treaties 8 and 11 continue to apply to the modern world.

Dene National Chief Bill Erasmus said the hope is to provide some clarity on what the relationship is between those under treaty and the federal government.

"It's making clear what our relationship is in the North. We have treaties eight and 11, we also have the modern agreement associated with Treaty 11, which includes the Gwich'in, the Sahtu and the Tlicho. so we want to be very clear what all of that means."

The meeting is also a historic one as Apr. 22nd marks the 20th anniversary of the signing of the Gwich'in Land Claim Agreement.

Erasmus said there will be some events planned around that as well.

"Their celebrations start on Thursday. They go all weekend and they'll end up in Inuvik on Sunday and so we're really looking forward to this being a huge event."

Assembly of First Nations national chief Shawn Atleo is scheduled to talk to delegates on Wednesday.

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