The chief in Fort Good Hope, N.W.T., says he does not accept the results of a recent vote on an access and benefits agreement being proposed for the Mackenzie Valley natural gas pipeline, should it be built.

Chief Frank T'Seleie said less than 25 per cent of the band members in the Sahtu community voted in the recent referendum, which seeks approval of an agreement that would give pipeline proponents access to the community's traditional land.

"Out of the 192, I believe something like 132 voted in favour and then 60-something voted against," T'Seleie said Friday.

"The concern now is the participation of our people. You know, it's a question of whether or not less than 200 can decide for the rest of the community."

In exchange for access to Fort Good Hope's territory, the community would receive money for education and for training, as well as access to jobs and business opportunities if the pipeline is built.

Despite a number of attempts to explain the agreement, T'Seleie said many in his community did not vote because they weren't allowed to see details of the proposed agreement.

"Some of us are sworn to secrecy or confidentiality, and that makes it very, very difficult to talk about it objectively," he said.

T'Seleie said people in the community are still concerned about how the proposed pipeline would damage the environment. As well, many are not sure if they can take advantage of the jobs and business opportunities being offered, he added.

The vote has divided Fort Good Hope, but T'Seleie said leaders need to work together to come up with an agreement that the majority of people can support.

A consortium of companies, led by Imperial Oil, proposes building a 1,220-kilometre pipeline from the Mackenzie Delta near Inuvik, through the Mackenzie Valley down to a hub in Alberta, where it would connect to existing pipelines.

The consortium's proposal has in the regulatory process for years. It is currently being reviewed by the Joint Review Panel, which is studying the environmental and socio-economic impacts of the pipeline. Its report is due out in December.