[RightWhale]

First Nations would be a corporation similar to Doyon or Tanana Chiefs. Apparently they own the land and have the power to sell a right-of-way or grant an easement across their land to another corporation, including negotiating compensation. If they can't swing a deal themselves and drag the government into it, they might find themselves granting an easement for token compensation. They might want another ANCSA, but the price and demand for natural gas isn't at all urgent like demand for Prudhoe Bay oil in 1969. They are pushing on a rope.

[Brad C.]

Thanks for the info, I figured Canada had granted them sovereignty (sp) or some other such thing. I like the phrase "pushing a rope", can't say I have heard it before.