The Treaty 8, 1900 Chief Snuff’s Band - the Taltson River people aka “The Rocher River people” are the members and descendents of this historical signatory band. Yet, today this band is not officially recognized by the Dept.of Indian Affairs and the local NWT bands.

In 1991, the Dogrib band of Dettah took the name “Yellowknives”. Why was this Dogrib band of Dettah who are a historical signatory band ( the Dogrib Chief Dried Geese signed Treaty 8, 1900 on behalf of this tribe) allowed to take the name of another historical Treaty 8, 1900 band - the Yellowknives? This begs the question--- then where are the Dogribs of Chief Dried Geese’s Dogrib band? It is common knowledge that the Dogribs of Dettah are the desendents of Chief Dried Geese’s band. Why was this allowed to happen?

The Taltson River dam is on the lands of Chief Snuff’s band of Treaty 8, 1900, southshore Great Slave Lake. Past and present issues pertaining to the Taltson River dam are currently being negotiated with the NWT Power Corp and other “powers that be” as well as with the Snowdrift band ( now known as Lutsek Ke Band), the Ft Resolution Band, the Ft Smith band, the Dogrib Dettah Band, and the N’Dilo band ( formerly known as the Rainbow Valley area on Latham Island). This is a serious violation of Treaty 8, 1900. The Taltson River dam and any issues pertaining to the Treaty 8, 1900 jurisdiction of Chief Snuff’s historical signatory band should be negotiated with the descendents of this band - the Rocher River people. Regardless if the Rocher River people live on their lands or not - the fact remains that they own the land in accordance with the historical treaty. Therefore, any negotiation other that with the true owner are legitimate and is in violation of Treaty 8, 1900.

Sadly, another issue - in the late 1960s when people from Rocher River were forced to relocate to other areas due to lack of a school - DIAND put the people on other band lists such as the Snowdrift and Ft Resolution band. Some to date do not know where they are located on band lists. This is another very serious violation of Treaty 8, 1900.

Today, DIAND has the responsibility to correct all of these violations and reinstate Chief Snuff’s Yellowknives band to their rightful place and restore all of the descendents of this band to their Treaty 8, 1900 Yellowknives band. DIAND had the responsibility to look after this band - however, they allowed all of the above mentioned to occur and were participating factors in the “demise” of the Yellowknives of Chief Snuff’s band.

Since 1995, I have been lobbying publicly, etc for this issue with DIAND, the Treaty 8 chiefs, etc and they all have basically remained silent on this matter. If there was a response - the main issue of Chief Snuff’s Yellowknives band of Treaty 8, 1900 was totally avoided - and other issues were responded to instead. A very interesting political tactic.

As Dene National Chief I appeal to you - to correct this injustice of the sad plight of the Rocher River People - descendents of Chief Snuff’s band of Treaty 8, 1900.

November 25, 2001 To: The Editor News/North newspaper I would really appreciate it if you would publish my letter as is - due to the nature of my request -a public challenge to the Treaty 8 Chiefs aka "Akaitcho Territory"

A Public Challenge to the Treaty 8 chiefs in the NWT -aka "Akaitcho Territory" To Identify Your Official Treaty 8, 1900 Historical Signatory Band Status.

Due to the extreme difficulty and opposition that I have encountered for the past 6 years in attempting to speak at public Treaty meetings, etc on the issue of the Rocher River/Taltson River people (the descendents of the historical Treaty 8, 1900 signatory band - Chief Henry Snuff's Band of the Taltson River) - who are not included or recognized in the Treaty 8, negotiations, etc today. I have no alternative but to resort to a public challenge to the Treaty 8 chiefs also identifying themselves as the "Akaitcho Territory".

My challenge is - Would all of the community chiefs of treaty 8, 1900 - please publicly identify which historical signatory band that you fall under. I am not accepting the technique of lumping together some of the historical treaty bands and the newly-formed modern non-signatory bands under the umbrella or title of "Akaitcho Territory" in order to attempt to substantiate and include non-signatory historical bands in the treaty process.

In addition, if you are a modern newly formed band - with no historical signatory band authority please identify this as well. We require clarifaction on this matter. I would recommend that copies of the original historical Treaty 8, 1899&1900 and Treaty 11, 1921&1922 documents be made available to the public at all treaty meetings. It should also be noted that even if a historical treaty signatory band (such as the Treaty 8, 1900 Chief Snuff's Band of the Taltson River/Rocher River) no longer have a community for whatever reason - the fact remains - that the descendents and people of the area- still have title to the land, etc, in accordance with the original signatory treaty.

Thank you and may God bless us all - Barbara Ann Beck, Rocher River, NWT

May 2003--Note: This letter was published in Northern newspapers and this letter was also sent to the Federal & Territorial governments & to the Treaty 8 Chiefs in the NWT. I also presented this info to a meeting in Yellowknife with Mr. Joe Handly, Minister of the NWT Power Corp & the Treaty 8 Chiefs at the Explorer Hotel in Yellowknife in May 2003.

Re: Taltson River Dam - Who Are the True Owners?

Recently there have been meetings and newspaper articles, etc with regard to the Taltson River dam and meetings with the "Akaitcho" chiefs. There is mention of expanding the dam for hydro for a diamond company.

My question is -"Why are they not negotiating this issue with the true owners of the Taltson River area? The true owners of the Taltson River and area are the descendents of Chief Snuff's band of Yellowknives of Treaty 8, 1900 adhesions. ( Please refer to the historical Treaty 8, 1899&1900 adhesions for substantiation of this.) Later, this band were called or known by the name the" Rocher River people "- referring to the name of the community that they resided at on the Taltson River. In the early 1960s, the last chief at Rocher River, Chief Frise, opposed the building of the Taltson River dam when he was approached on the matter. Shortly thereafter, the school burned down and the people were forced to relocate to Ft Resolution and other areas, in order for their children to attend school.

Today, this historical signatory band is not recognized although they are a historical signatory treaty band. No other bands have the legal right or authority to negotiate any matter pertaining to Chief Snuff's band lands in accordance with Treaty 8, 1899&1900 adhesions. The technique continually used by the Feds and chiefs to substantiate their reluctance to recognize Chief Snuff's historical band is to indicate that there is no "Rocher River" band - I agree with that. They ignore the real issue and reply in this manner. But, I reply over and over to their assertion that - I am not referring to a "Rocher River" band per se - I am referring to the Treaty 8, 1900 band of Chief Snuff. However, they still continue to avoid my issue and reply to a "Rocher River" band.

In closing, I request that any agreements pertaining to the Taltson River dam or any matter involved with Chief Snuff's lands be made with the rightful owners of the land - the descendents of Chief Snuff's band of Treaty 8, 1900. For more information, please refer to my web page at "http://www.theedge/barbarabeck"

Thank you, Barbara Ann Beck (originally from Rocher River, NWT

"AKAITCHO" AND "TLI CHO" BOUNDARY ISSUE - VS HISTORICAL TREATY 8, 1900 & TREATY 11.

1921 Today, November 27, 2002 the initialing of the boundary issue of the "Akaitcho" and the "Tli Cho"(Dogrib) was signed today in Rae. ( I have previously mentioned that this treaty boundary issue should be identified as to what it truly is - a historical Treaty 8, 1900 and Treaty 11. 1921 issue. The names "Akaitcho" and "Tli Cho" is a misnomer and causes confusion) My question is: Under what authority is the "Akaitcho and Tli Cho boundary issue under"? It is obviously not under the historical Treaty 8, 1900 and Treaty 11, 1921 treaty. So, tell me, What validity does this Akaitcho & Tli Cho Agreement have? It is not possible to do away with the historical treaties. So, it is concluded that the initialing of the Akaitcho/Tli Cho Boundary issue of today is not valid nor legitimate. This is a very serious violation of the historical treaty rights. It is time to stop this treaty violation and base all treaty issues where they should be based on the historical treaties - nothing else is valid.

Thank you, Barbara Ann Beck orginally from the Taltson River/Rocher River- a historical Treaty 8, 1900 jurisdiction - Chief Snuff’s Band.

Of interest is that some Treaty 8 chiefs in the NWT are not supporting the Treaty 8, 1899 Benoit case on the tax issue in northern Alta

In a CBC story -Jerry Paulette of Smith's Landing ( now called Ft Fitsgerald, Alta) First Nations - (a historical signatory Treaty 8, 1899 signatory band) encouraged the NWT Treaty 8 chiefs to support the Benoit case. However, Rick Edjericon was vague in his public response and apparently declined support due to "their support would hurt their self-government" and claims. Perhaps their reluctance is due to the fact that legitimately it is only the historical Treaty 8, 1899&1900 signatory bands that have the right to negotiate treaty issues. The newly formed modern day bands who are not grounded or descendents of the historical treaty bands - do not have a legitmate right to the treaties.

There are only 4 historical Treaty 8. 1900 signatory bands in what is now the NWT. They are:

1. Chipewyans of Little Buffalo River (Ft Resolution) - Leader, Louison - July 1900.

2. Dogribs of Dettah - Chief Dried Geese - July 1900

3. Slaveys of Hay River - Chief Sunrise - July 1900

4. Yellowknives of Taltson River/South Shore Great Slave Lake- Chief Snuff-July1900 This band of Chief Snuff's 1900 - the Rocher River people- are not included in the the Treaty 8 negotiations of today- yet they are a historical Treaty 8, 1900 signatory band

All of the other bands of today in the NWT of the Treaty 8, 1900 jurisdiction are newly formed modern bands with no legit historical Treaty 8, 1900 authority. (Please note that the only other historical treaty in the NWT is Treaty 11, 1921&1922 which includes the Ft Rae Dogribs and the Mackenzie River regions)

It should be noted that Treaty 8, 1899 & 1900 Adesions is in two parts. Treaty 8, 1899 pertains to what is now northern BC, northern Alta., northern Sask. There are numerous bands in the 1899 regions. The following year, 1900, the treaty party went to the post of Ft Resolution in July 1900 to enter into Treaty 8, 1900 with the 4 bands listed above. For substantiation of this info - please refer to the documents of the Treaty 8, 1899 & 1900 Adhesions.

The positive outcome of the Benoit case is that it is creating public interest, awareness, and attention to the historical Treaty 8, 1899 &1900. Now, the truth of it all will be exposed. May God bless us all.

Thank you, Barbara Ann Beck of Rocher River, NWT