Lesser Slave Lake regional council signs $108 M pact

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The Lesser Slave Lake Indian regional Council is celebrating after inking a $108 million agreement last week with Ottawa.

The multi-year transfer agreement, which covers a five-year-period - 1990 to 1995 - is the largest such agreement negotiated to date in Canada.

Council Grand Chief Robert Horseman in an interview said the agreement is a big step toward self-government.

"We've shown them Indians can run their own policies. We can do whatever we put our minds to. There's nothing holding us back," said Horseman.

Unlike other payments the council has received, the agreement gives decision-making responsibility entirely to the regional council, said Indian Affairs Minister Tom Siddon, who signed it at Driftpile Oct. 19.

Horseman said he's pleased with the final outcome of the deal which took six years to complete. "I feel great. We finally got what we wanted which is more flexibility. We won't be treated like little kids anymore by having to ask Indian affairs for permission to do something."

The council will continue to provide programs and services like education, housing, roads and social assistance, but the agreement allowed the non-band council to transfer the money between programs as well as reshape them without first consulting Indian affairs.

Siddon said the council has proven its ability to deliver department programs and services effectively since 1979, when the nine bands formed the council to manage the regional office of Indian affairs at High Prairie.

The agreement provides the regional council with as much authority as possible under existing legislation.

"This agreement allows the regional council to be held accountable to its member band councils and their memberships for the financing of their community programs," said Siddon.

"The agreement is an example of an ongoing commitment in the day-to-day affairs of Native communities. Responsibility for decision-making will rest entirely with the regional council," he said.

The nine Indian bands include Driftpile, Duncan's, Grouard, Horse Lake, Sawridge, Sturgeon Lake, Sucker Creek, Swan River and Whitefish Lake.