The Edmonton Journal reports that a new land-use plan...

The Edmonton Journal reports that a new land-use plan for Alberta’s Lower Athabasca region is being soundly rejected by the chief of Athabasca Chipewyan First Nation. Chief Allan Adam said the plan will impact the treaty rights of Aboriginal people and this will likely be met with action.

“If confrontation has to take place, confrontation has to take place,” he said. “What else are we supposed to do?” The plan is the first of seven regional plans for the development of industry, conservation and recreation areas in Alberta. Adam said the plan fails to address the “staggering number of concerns” that were raised by the First Nation during the three-year consultation process, and is instead a government plan “to annihilate our lands and our future.” The plan does not do enough to protect wildlife and treaty territory. Adam said the consultation process was “a big waste of time.” First Nations concerns were not taken seriously, he said.