The K'atlodeeche First Nation near Hay River, N.W.T., is leaving the Dehcho First Nations.

Dehcho Grand Chief Herb Norwegian said the announcement was made Tuesday afternoon at a leadership meeting in Fort Providence, N.W.T.

Norwegian said it's something the K'atlodeeche First Nation had been discussing for years.

“Some of the positions they have held were close to their heart. They didn't want to release their reserve. They wanted to continue to keep their reserve and they wanted to continue to respect their treaty rights and they wanted to continue to hang onto the Treaty 8 that their forefathers had negotiated,” Norwegian said.

The Dehcho First Nations include several First Nations in the Deh Cho region of the Northwest Territories.

Norwegian said the meeting ended on good terms.

He added that their departure will not impact work on the Deh Cho Process – the First Nations' negotiations with the federal and territorial governments over land and resources.