Boucher announces land swap deal

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A land swap deal witll see over 250 acres of land exchange hands between the federal government and Fort McKay.

Fort McKay Chief Jim Boucher said, "we will exchange (McKay Reserve) land which is situated on the east side of the Athabasca River for land on the west side of the river where some McKaY residents live at present."

Band council member, Edith Orr, says that "McKay is going to swap the government acre for acre."

Orr explains that the land they're getting from the government in trade has always been lived on by the McKay community. She said "We can't just pull up our homes and move."

Murray McKnight, the director of land programs for the Improvement District and Native Services Division of Municipal Affairs, clearly stated, "no one's going to move anyone's houses.

"There are a few houses that are outside of the community now," McKnight clarified, "but the federal government is declaring that area reserve land."

An estimated seven acres of land on the east side of the Athabasca River will remain reserve land. The land is the site of a McKay cemetery and two homesteads owned by Francis Orr. Orr could not be reached for comment.

According to McKnight, the land Fort McKay is receiving in the deal will add on to the present area that they already occupy.

The question of ownership of mineral rights is not involved in the trade. The federal government has control of the rights and this will not change, McKnight said.

The land exchange package will not effect the Metis population of Fort McKay who live on 623 acres of leased crown land. The Metis still have 10 years left on the 25-year-lease on land not involved in trade talks.