Cautious optimism over “open door policy” with province

The Athabasca Chipewyan First Nation is hopeful that having a new premier will mean a more open approach to dealings between First Nations and the provincial government.

“ACFN needs to have an open door policy with the provincial government so that we can have constructive dialogue rather than constantly challenging their policies and their framework agreements,” said Eriel Deranger, spokesperson for ACFN Chief Allan Adam. “We don’t want to just constantly be butting heads.”

In July, the ACFN took the first step in opening that door. Instead of waiting for federal government direction to take the ACFN-authored caribou and bison protection strategy to the provincial government, ACFN officials met in person with Sustainable Resources Development Minister Diana McQueen and Aboriginal Relations Minister Robin Campbell and their staffs to present NÌh boghodi: We are the stewards of our land.

“We were very well received and that said, ‘Yes, maybe it’s time we started working together,’” said Pat Marcel, ACFN Elder who helped guide the report. It was also on his encouragement that ACFN took the report to the provincial government at the same time it was delivered to the federal government. “I wanted an open door policy with the province and I talked to the Chief and he went for it.”

How far this new-found openness will get the ACFN – or other First Nations – is still unclear.

Deranger says it will depend on Premier Alison Redford.
“This is sort of a test to see how different is Redford’s government? How much more flexible are they going to be?” she said.

Deranger notes that NÌh boghodi is a “far more aggressive strategy” than the provincial government has ever considered. NÌh boghodi calls for a protection zone, where no more industrial development will take place, as well as a stewardship zone, with limited development.
Presently two developments are on the table for Shell Canada in traditional ACFN territory.  And Redford has made her support of Enbridge Inc.’s Northern Gateway Project clear.

However, Deranger notes that Redford has been cautious about moving ahead on some of the proposals put forward by her predecessor Ed Stelmach, including the Lower Athabasca Region Plan.

“Does that mean that she is the opposite side of the spectrum? Of course not. Is she a little bit more logical in her approach moving forward? I would say so….She’s not a budding and green environmentalist from (Green Peace) but she’s not the drill-baby-drill Conservative that Stelmach seems to be. She’s somewhere, I wouldn’t call it in the middle, but she’s not on one of those polar extremes,” said Deranger.

With NÌh boghodi on the table, LARP still pending, and a new biodiversity management framework to come down the pipes in the next two or three years, Deranger says she would like to see ACFN and other First Nations not only consulted but given the option to participate in the development of the plans. 

“We’ve opened the door for discussions and it’s kind of in the hands of the government to see what’s next,” said Deranger.  “ACFN has put forward many recommendations … it’s a matter of will they implement these things and are they willing to work with our people to move forward.”

Deranger is guardedly hopeful.

“Working in partnership with (the province) is a more productive way of moving forward,” she said.

Agrees Marcel. “Let’s quit knocking heads against one another and let’s deal in a manner in which we both can gain something out of it.”