News Release

February 1, 2005

PSAC-UNW, Dene Nation join forces to protect Dene workers' rights. 

Ottawa--The PSAC and its component, the Union of Northern Workers have agreed to jointly fund a research project commissioned by the Dene Nation on methods to reconcile the demands of a “regular job” in Northern Canada with aboriginal culture and traditions.

“This research will go a long way towards allowing Dene people to fully participate into the developing economy of Northern Canada while preserving the ways of life our ancestors passed on to us,” said Dene National Chief Noeline Villebrun who signed the agreement together with Jean-François Des Lauriers, PSAC Executive Regional Vice-President for the North and Todd Parsons, President of the Union of Northern Workers, a component of the PSAC operating in the Northwest Territories.

For Villebrun, the EKATI mine, north-east of Yellowknife, NWT, is a good example of the problems that can arise when the Dene workers try to maintain their northern culture within a workplace based on a southern model.

“Dene wage earners at this mine are trying to adapt to an industrial work place that is damaging their traditional lands, negatively impacting, in some case, their family and community lives, and at the same time presenting an opportunity to earn an income and acquire skills” Villebrun said.

She added that the findings of the research will be used to better represent the interests of the employees at the mine site and other industrial resource extraction worksites.

For Nycole Turmel, PSAC National President, the agreement comes as a means to ensure Dene people eventually receive the full benefits of well paid unionized jobs without sacrificing their traditional way of life.

“The solidarity and protection of workers' rights that are well established within the Labour movement can be used to protect and enhance the Dene's values in a modern economy.” Turmel said.  

Todd Parsons, President of PSAC Union of Northern Workers, believes strong ties between the union and the Dene People can play and important role to ensure a better social cohesion in the developing regions of the North.  

“The PSAC has a long history of protecting workers rights in this country,” Parsons said. “The Dene Nation will now be able to use the Union's strength to protect their culture while receiving the benefits of well paid jobs. Everybody wins.” Parsons concluded.

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For information and to schedule interviews, please call

Alain Cossette, PSAC , (613) 560-4317    (613) 293-9210

05-010205