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Three wells to be drilled
Since last May when Chief Gerry Ermineskin (right) and Blaine Favel, CEO and president of One Earth Gas and Oil Inc. signed a 50/50 joint venture partnership agreement, One Earth Oil and Gas has finalized locations with the Ermineskin First Nation and submitted an application for drilling three wells through Indian Oil and Gas Canada, which manages and regulates oil and gas resources on First Nation reserve lands. The locations were announced in Sprott Resource Corp.’s third quarter report. One Earth Oil and Gas is a privately held oil and gas exploration and development company 91 per cent owned by SRC.
Lawsuit filed against Alberta government for cigarette seizure
Montana First Nations, Chief Carolyn Buffalo, and Rainbow Tobacco Company have filed a joint $1.5 million lawsuit against the Alberta Gaming and Liquor Commission over the seizure of tobacco from a Quonset in Hobbema. The lawsuit alleges the AGLC’s seizure of the cigarettes has “inhibited the economic development” of Montana First Nation and taken away the opportunity to earn a livelihood as well as the province defaming Rainbow Tobacco by labelling the cigarettes contraband. The cigarettes were seized in January by the RCMP and AGLC. The 14 million cigarettes are equivalent to $3 million tax revenue for the province. The cigarettes were marked that federal duty had been paid. APTN National News reported Hobbema RCMP Staff Sgt. Robin Alexander said he believes the prosecutor will lay charges against the Rainbow Tobacco Company and possibly the band council politicians involved with the shipment. “There is no dispute Alberta tax was not paid and I do know it is a violation of the Tobacco Tax Act. Unless there are reasons I can’t imagine, I believe charges will be laid in relation to that,” said Alexander. At issue, in part, is who has jurisdiction. Montana First Nations Chief Carolyn Buffalo said the cigarettes are to be sold to Alberta’s First Nations. First Nations fall under federal jurisdiction.
Enbridge offers compensation for Northern Gateway Project
Calgary-based Enbridge will offer First Nations hundreds of millions of dollars to agree to its proposed Northern Gateway project. Aboriginal and environmental groups have strongly opposed the $5.5 billion project that would ship bitumen from the oilsands to a marine terminal in Kitimat. First Nations and Métis communities would receive $380 million in income over three decades. The proposal is based on 10 per cent equity interest in the pipeline, generating about $280 million and a trust with Enbridge contributing one per cent annual pre-tax earnings to make up an additional $100 million. Many groups see the 1,172 kilometre pipeline as an environmental threat to the coast-line and waterways. “We’re not interested in the package, regardless of what they are offering,” said Terry Teegee, vice chief of the Carrier Sekani Tribal Council. “Our community members have already stated it’s not worth the risk of not if but when the pipeline breaks.” Eight of 40 First Nations along the proposed pipeline are looking into the proposal and have signed a memorandum of understanding with Enbridge.
Athabasca Chipewyan consider further court action
The Athabasca Chipewyan First Nation is considering taking its court case against the Alberta government over industry leases on traditional lands to the Supreme Court of Canada. The band’s appeal was rejected by the Alberta court on Jan. 31. The band was trying to force the government to consult with First Nations before granting industry leases on traditional lands. In a press release, Fort Chipewyan Chief Allan Adam said they were considering their options. “While this decision is a legal setback on these leases, we remain committed to pursuing all legal and political avenues open to our people to assert and protect our rights,” he said. The land in question involves five leases near ACFN’s Pine Point reserve sold to Shell Canada and other companies for roughly $50 million in 2007. Nigel Bankes, who is the University of Calgary’s chair of Natural Resources Law as well as an Aboriginal law expert, said the government’s policy of posting lease sales online and not going to First Nations directly doesn’t stand up to scrutiny. Bankes told the Calgary Herald, “I’d say the province isn’t doing a good job. Particularly when it comes to granting oilsands rights, because they basically say, ‘We can fulfil our duty simply by posting stuff on our website.’ I don’t think that’s real consultation.”
Chiefs suggest Aboriginal scientists to fill vacated position
Chiefs Roxanne Marcel of Mikisew Cree First Nation and Allan Adam of Athabasca Chipewyan First Nation are calling for Aboriginal representation on the new oilsands monitoring panel. The Slave River Journal reports that the chiefs sent a list of Aboriginal scientists to Environment Minister Rob Renner to fill the spot vacated by California ecologist Dr. Helen Ingram. Ingram resigned her position because of lack of Aboriginal representation on the panel. Adam said that having a First Nation person with on-the-land experience and traditional knowledge of northeastern Alberta would go a long way toward reassuring downstream communities that the government is effectively monitoring the region’s water and land. However, Renner has named University of Saskatchewan water scientist Howard Wheater to the panel.
Province wants say in Stoney Nakoda Nations bylaw
The Alberta government is seeking to intervene in a federal court case looking at whether the Stoney Nakoda Nations should be able to block development of a sour gas pipeline within a few hundred metres of its Eden Valley reserve. The Nation passed a bylaw stating that no sour gas pipeline would be allowed within 1.5 kilometres of the reserve. However, Indian and Northern Affairs Canada said the bylaw exceeds the First Nations’ law-making authority. The First Nation appealed the decision, bringing the case to the federal court. The Calgary Herald reports that the government is arguing that if Eden Valley is allowed to influence the location of a pipeline planned nearby although not on its reserve lands, it would set a precedent that could hurt oil and gas development near the 46 First Nations with reserve lands across the province. “It has the potential to lead to confusion and uncertainty in the management of Alberta’s Crown lands and the regulation and development of Alberta’s natural resources,” said an affidavit from Jonathan Smith, branch head for aboriginal relations at Alberta Energy. “It has the potential to create a situation where provincial Crown land use and resource development in zones around Indian reserves could be negatively impacted.”
Aboriginal people under-represented in Ottawa
Federal Liberals at a town hall meeting in Canmore were asked whether a mechanism could be put in place to allow Aboriginal peoples more access to political positions. Liberal MP Bob Rae agreed Aboriginals were under-represented in Ottawa and said there were two ways to address that issue. He said there could be geographical constituencies created that would “almost guarantee” First Nations representation or there could be “minimum number” requirements. “I think we do have to face up to the under representation. It is a serious problem — and a serious challenge,” said Rae in the Canmore Leader.
New addiction, mental health beds opened
Thirty-four new beds, 18 in Medicine Hat and 16 in Fort McMurray, dedicated to helping people with addictions and mental health issues, will be opened with funding from the provincial government’s Safe Communities initiative. Southeast Alberta will be served by six new residential detoxification beds and 12 new residential treatment beds in Medicine Hat, while the Fort McMurray area will receive 16 new residential treatment beds. Detox beds provide 24-hour support for people going through withdrawal. Residential treatment beds provide a therapeutic treatment program for individuals who require a secure and safe environment. Existing addiction day treatment programs are planned for the Medicine Hat and Fort McMurray sites.
Minister of Aboriginal Relations appointed to Treasury Board
Len Webber, minister of Aboriginal Relations, has been appointed to the Treasury Board in Premier Ed Stelmach’s latest Cabinet shuffle. Wetaskiwin-Camrose MLA Verlyn Olson, who recently chaired a committee that wrote the First Nations Métis Inuit Workforce Planning Initiative report, was named minister of Justice and Attorney General.
Compiled by Shari Narine
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