The 46th annual Dene National Assembly getting underway in Fort Simpson today is expected to discuss the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, adopted by the UN in 2007.

The Canadian government opposed sections of the declaration for nearly a decade, but Indigenous Affairs Minister Carolyn Bennett officially reversed the previous government's stance in May. At the time she said the government intended "nothing less than to adopt and implement the declaration in accordance with the Canadian Constitution."

"This is going to be an opportunity for us to get together and really look at what our agenda is on that," says Chief Gerald Antoine, whose Liidlii Kue First Nation is hosting the event.

Delegates from 33 Dene communities across the Northwest Territories, Yukon, Manitoba and Alberta are expected to attend, filling the local hotels to capacity for the three-day meeting.

Time for reorganization

The declaration is the type of big picture discussion that Grand Chief Herb Norwegian of the Dehcho First Nations is hoping the assembly will address as land claim agreements are settled. He says it's time for the Dene Nation to be reorganized to meet the challenges currently facing its people.

Dehcho First Nations Grand Chief Herb Norwegian says he hopes Dene National Assemblies will address more big picture discussions as land claim agreements are settled. (CBC)

"Right now the Dene Nation is trying to focus in on community issues and trying to deal with some of the regional issues, but that's not their job anymore," he says.

"The Dene Nation needs a new mandate, and needs to take a new look at things that are from the region and beyond. It needs to step up to the plate and take on some of the bigger issues that plague us every day."

Those bigger issues, says Norwegian, include environmental stewardship and the protection of water rights, the engagement of the next generation in their governance, and the ongoing process of negotiating land claims agreements.

"What's really important is that people have good solid tools in their hands, some good land claim agreements, good land use planning tools in their hands...so the land doesn't deteriorate in front of our very eyes," he says.

"Or at least in front of this generation's eyes."

Traditional meeting place

Fort Simpson has an historical connection to the Dene Nation, formerly known as the Indian Brotherhood of the N.W.T. The village was the site of the 1975 Assembly at which the Dene Nation adopted its current name.

Located at the confluence of the Liard and Mackenzie rivers, the island was also a traditional meeting place.

"It's been one of the special places of gathering for as far back as our history could show," says Antoine.

Liquor has been banned from past assemblies, but this year the organizers say the delegates will be responsible for themselves.

"One thing that we know is that people can take care of themselves," says Antoine.

"We have some very serious and important issues that we need to be able to talk with each other on, and we expect that we're going to do that."