Lindberg Landing occupants 'got no right' to block road, says Nahɂą Dehé Dene chief

CBC

3 days ago

A man who was ordered by the N.W.T. courts to leave Lindberg Landing has moved off the site he was ordered to vacate and is now further into the bush, according to a local chief.
In May, an N.W.T. Supreme Court judge ordered Aidan Hoven to vacate the site, which is along the Liard River, by Aug. 1. The judge said the site was on territorial lands and Hoven had no right to occupy it.
Nahɂą Dehé Dene Band Chief Steve Vital said Hoven has since moved from the site to adjacent land. Hoven, who lives off-grid, could not be reached for an interview.
Vital is still concerned by other activity at the site, including a locked gate other occupants have installed across an access road, which he says blocks Indigenous access.
"They got no right to put that up there," said Vital.
The site at Lindberg Landing is near Nahanni Butte and is protected from any development through the Dehcho land claim process.
Vital said a group of people were planning to attend Lindberg Landing Friday with an RCMP presence.
He said legal action against unauthorized occupants could be their next step.
"I'm hoping that they just get them removed from there and [the territorial government will] terminate the lease, return it back to its natural state," said Vital.
Dehcho First Nations Grand Chief Herb Norwegian said long-time resident Sue Lindberg's late husband built the road and harmoniously shared it with community members over the years. He said the gate should be removed.
"For an outside group to go in there and block off the road, is totally ludicrous," he said.
Court documents say Hoven was brought up to the area to help run a sawmill. Clinton Leussink, who owns that sawmill, spoke to CBC about the situation.
The N.W.T. government's environment department recently emailed Leussink, who lives at Lindberg Landing, informing him the gate is a "trespass on territorial land" and it must be removed by Friday, he said.
Relationship with occupants fraught
Tensions have been building between those who live at Lindberg Landing and nearby First Nations for months. Some First Nations have alleged their members are being harassed, followed or blocked from accessing their traditional territory.
"Our people are getting really concerned. It's gotten to a point where the Dene are being just kicked out of their own area," said Norwegian.
Vital said he's heard of Nahanni Butte residents being questioned if they attempt to visit the area or access the road and reports of harassment with boats and motor vehicles.
Leussink said allegations of violence or harassment are false. He said in the five-or-so instances he's told someone to leave, it was because a visitor had "malicious intent."
He feels Hoven is being "singled out" and said the police themselves recommended installing a gate.
"We've had RCMP tell us now we should have a gate or close the gate," he said.
No charges have ever been laid in response to calls for service at Lindberg Landing, police said.
Hoven's eviction is a civil matter and "not the responsibility" of N.W.T. RCMP, a spokesperson said.
"RCMP involvement in such situations is limited only to a peace-keeping capacity," said police in an email.
Lindberg Landing recently held a vote to install a gate, said Leussink. Access to the area is possible by radioing someone from within Lindberg, he said.
Leussink denied that this arrangement forces Dene to ask Lindberg's residents for permission to access traditional Dehcho lands.
"The gate does not obstruct public or Indigenous access," said Leussink.
Leussink contested the narrative that people at Lindberg are a threat.
He says residents have a good relationship with the police, noting Fort Liard RCMP alerted residents about the court order against Hoven.
Leussink provided a forwarded email apparently signed by former detachment commander Sgt. James A. Charles. CBC has not been able to independently verify the email, as N.W.T. RCMP declined to speak about the situation.
Leussink said he asked for a meeting at Lindberg Landing with the N.W.T. government and Dehcho First Nations leaders.
He said if Hoven and his wife are removed, he plans to protest.
The territory's environment and climate change department declined the CBC's request for an interview, because the matter "involves legal proceedings and enforcement actions," public affairs manager Tania Oosting said in an email.