A regional land-use plan that would protect more than half of the Dehcho region from development was approved Wednesday by delegates attending the annual assembly of the Dehcho First Nations.

The organization, which represents 11 communities in the southwest region of the Northwest Territories, is meeting in the community of Kakisa this week.

Grand Chief Herb Norwegian called the new plan a weapon to strengthen the Dehcho First Nations' position at the land-claims table with the federal government. 

"If you put a plan for the whole territory — your land — you've got a plan in place," said Norwegian. "It would be impossible to be talking to Canada about extinguishing any of your land [rights] because you have a plan for the whole area."

People in the region see it as a way of controlling development while they work on completing land and governance negotiations.

The land-use plan still has to be approved by both the federal and territorial governments.

The committee that developed the plan hopes that will happen within the next 10 months.

A recent land-claims offer made by Ottawa to the Dehcho was roundly criticized by the assembly earlier this week.

The route of the proposed 1,200-kilometre Mackenzie Valley gas pipeline project runs right through the Dehcho region.