Members of the Stoney Nakoda have been given lifetime access to...

Members of the Stoney Nakoda  have been given lifetime access to Banff National Park. A ceremony was held at Banff Indian Grounds on Sept. 10 to launch an entry pass program. The program comes as a result of a partnership between the First Nation community and Parks Canada. “The launch of this entry pass to Banff National Park signals Parks Canada’s commitment to renewing and deepening its relationship with Canada’s First Nations peoples,” said MP Blake Richards, who presented the first three lifetime passes to Bearspaw Chief Darcy Dixon, Chiniki Chief Bruce LaBelle and Wesley Chief Ernest Wesley, representing the three nations of Stoney Nakoda. “It’s not because of who was here first, but it’s because of the Creator’s wishes for us to be here,” said Wesley. “We are part of it, part of developing Banff.” Jasper National Park and Riding Mountain National Park in Manitoba have similar programs with surrounding First Nation communities.