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Two First
Nations receive economic boost from INAC
By Joan Taillon
Sweetgrass Writer
EDMONTON
Two First Nations, one in the north and one in the south of
the province, got a significant influx of cash from the federal
government last month.
On March 16, Minister of Indian Affairs and Northern Development
Robert Nault announced funding to support the infrastructure
development aspirations of the Blood Tribe, southwest of Lethbridge,
and the Fort McKay First Nation, north of Fort McMurray.
The Bloods' Mataki Farm irrigation project will receive $6.5
million. That money will revamp the tribe's 30-year-old irrigation
system and increase their productive land to 3,200 acres.
More acreage under irrigation will mean more money for the Bloods.
Specifically, the INAC money will be spent on powerline relocation,
underground piplelines, as well as new irrigation pumps and pivots.
An additional benefit is the tribe's farmers will develop more
efficient and profitable farming skills.
Blood tribe members will further profit by spin-off processing
jobs.
For instance, an expanded operation will include growing seed
potatoes and Timothy hay that will be processed at a Blood tribe
plant for export to Japan and elsewhere.
Both Chief Chris Shade of the Blood Tribe and Chief Jim Boucher
of Fort McKay First Nation attended the press conference.
"This Mataki farm irrigation project is very important to
our agricultural-based industry on the Blood reserve," said
Chief Shade in a press release. "By enhancing our economic
development enterprises and with our vast land base, it will
assist our tribe to achieve self-sufficiency."
Fort McKay First Nation is getting $1.75 million so it can participate
fully in the $5.1 billion Athabasca Oil Sands Project (AOSP),
of which Shell Canada owns 60 per cent.
The northern nation has signed a deal with Shell to partner in
a business deal that means Fort McKay can build maintenance shops,
bulk fuel storage facilities and a 56,000 square foot office
complex for the Muskeg River Mine. That will support the band's
operation of 150 pieces of pieces of heavy equipment it will
purchase by the time the mine opens late next year.
The agreement guarantees the First Nation 75 per cent of the
employment and business opportunities generated for the life
of the project.
The band has obtained a 10-year-lease, with the chance to renew,
for eight acres of Crown land next to the mine site.
Albian Sands Energy is the AOSP company that will operate the
mine.
"This project is a great example of how government, industry
and First Nations can work together to promote self-reliance
among First Nation members and to expedite the path toward independence,
said Chief Jim Boucher.
Shell Canada's senior vice president, oil sands division is Neil
Camarta. He said, "We've gained a competent and competitive
business partner while at the same time assisting in meaningful
economic development for the community."
One of the spin-off benefits of the INAC/Fort McKay First Nation/Shell
partnership will be the creation of 100 Aboriginal jobs and 50
non-aboriginal jobs over five years.
The Indian Affairs minister pointed out that INAC funding for
economic development programs increased from nearly $25 million
to $100 million in the current fiscal year, $10 million of which
is to benefit Alberta First Nations.
"This is a significant investment and demonstrates beyond
any shadow of a doubt the department's commitment to assisting
First Nations in increasing economic capacity building, business
development and participation in regional economic development
opportunities," said Minister Nault.
In Alberta, he said, the First Nations themselves are putting
up $13 million and other partners are contributing $36 million.
Nault made the announcement at a press conference at the Sheraton
Grande Hotel in Edmonton, just prior to heading to the Hotel
Macdonald to address the Council On Corporate Aboriginal Relations
at a meeting sponsored by the Conference Board of Canada.
Recently appointed provincial Minister of Aboriginal Affairs
and Northern Development Pearl Calahasen was on vacation and
unavailable for comment. Calahasen, a Métis, was born
in the northern community of Grouard, where employment and development
opportunities are always a hot topic.
But communications director Peter Tadman said, "We welcome
the federal initiative and are pleased to see private industry
partnering in economic development projects with First Nations."
He added, "Through Alberta's policy framework, we are committed
to building partnerships with other governments, industry and
Aboriginal communities to enhance employment and business opportunities.
There are many examples of partnerships throughout Alberta .
. . it's gratifying to see the results from such co-operation."
Tadman said the benefits he was referring to include the development
of business and management expertise, business growth, training
opportunities, and development of a "long-term work force-particularly
in remote communities."
Examples he gave of partnerships throughout Alberta are the Athabasca
Tribal Council Industry Working Group Agreement; Syncrude and
Suncor initiatives "supporting Aboriginal hiring and business
ventures;" the Weyerhauser/Aseniwuce Winewak Nation agreement;
and finally, co-operative renewable resource management initiatives.
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Run to help defeat diabetes
By Terry Lusty
Tansi!
How about those National Aboriginal Achievement Awards at
Edmonton's Jubilee Auditorium on March 16, eh? Be sure to watch
for them on CBC Television on April 10.
Sasquatch sighted
It's like a page out of Ripley's Believe it or Not! I remember
hearing stories 25 years ago about the Sasquatch, or Big Foot.
I then heard about them from Wayne Roan, now chief of Smallboy's
Mountain Cree Camp in the Rocky Mountain foothills west of Edmonton.
From a reliable source comes word that there have been recent
sightings on the Tsuu T'ina Reserve on the outskirts of Calgary.
I am told that the band police saw evidence such as footprints.
A good cause
If you don't have a favourite charity and are looking for one,
how about diabetes, one of Native people's most prevalent ailments.
You can jump on this bandwagon on May 12 when Wabasca hosts the
2nd Annual Diabetes Road Relay Race of 125 km (75 miles), beginning
at Slave Lake and ending in Wabasca.
The relay is limited to 25 teams with 15 runners per team and
there is a registration fee. For more info, call Pauline Shaw
at 780-891-2000 or Marcel Auger at 891-3778.
Inuit appointed
The Arctic Institute at the University of Calgary has a new director,
Karla Williamson. Not only is she the first female ever appointed
to the position, she's also the first Inuit.
Awareness days
Calgary, like Edmonton, has been sponsoring Aboriginal Awareness
Days.
The Southern Alberta Institute of Technology hosted theirs on
the last Friday in March. Viola McClure co-ordinated it. Mount
Royal College also held theirs recently with Deanna Cardinal
as chief organizer.
At the University of Calgary, Shawna Cunningham, director of
Native Student Services, praised the efforts of Joely Big Eagle,
president of the First Nation Student Association, for putting
together their Native Awareness Week.
The event included traditional and contemporary songs by Olivia
Tailfeathers, singing by Piitapootakiiks (formerly the Grassland
Singers), a talk about her art by Joane Cardinal Schubert, an
impressive art installation called 'Parallels and Diffusion'
by three architect students - Chris Clarke, Mel Quesnelle and
Buddy Mistaken Chief - as well as live theatre by Lori Villebrun,
a traditional powwow with eight drums, a singing and sound workshop
by Sadie Buck from the Banff Centre for Management, a personal
and spiritual perspective by George Calliou, and an Aboriginal
health conference by actor Evan Adams.
The university has set Sat., June 16 as the day it plans to honor
Aboriginal graduates. The happenings will include a powwow at
the Red and White Club at McMahon Football Stadium, immediately
south of the university campus. For information, call 403-220-6034.
Mike Heron, previously active in Métis circles, has been
named executive director of the Calgary Native Friendship Centre.
Congrats and best wishes Mike!
Drum contest
In Lethbridge, the Sik-Ooh-Kotoki Friendship Centre director,
Jim Short, announces their first hand drum contest. The money
competition will accept registrations until 6 p.m. April 21,
then begin drumming at 7 p.m.
Pool prowess
Stan Tourangeau, formerly from Ft. Chipewyan, has done it again!
On March 10-11, he captured the United States Open Bar Table
9-Ball Championship at the Sands Regent Hotel in Reno, Nevada.
En route to victory, Stan soundly whipped last year's champion,
Kim Davenport, 9-2 in the quarterfinals.
He went on to beat Tony Watson in a nervous semi-final standoff.
Tourangeau pocketed a cool $5,000 American and a trophy.
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