Chiefs say new premier needs to talk to them

The message is clear: new premier Jim Prentice needs to talk to First Nations leaders.

“He needs more dialogue with First Nations and obviously the jurisdictional issue needs to be addressed first and foremost. Our sovereign relationship is with the federal crown. We are a sovereign nation and we determine what is best for us as First Nations,” said Chief Brad Rabbit, of the Montana Cree First Nation.

In Prentice’s first press conference since being sworn in as premier, he said, “I will tell you that ... the process of a new engagement on consultation and accommodation that fulfills the constitutional obligations of the government is well under way and I intend to pick up on the work and carry forth with it.”

Chiefs across the province have made their displeasure clear with the process undertaken by the Redford government in establishing a matrix for consultation for economic development as well as creating an Aboriginal consultation office.

“There was no free, prior and informed consent on this consultation policy under this previous premier and government. So if (Prentice) wants to do things right, he needs to take a step back and sit with the leadership, all of us, prior to developing any kind of legislation on a consultation policy,” said Onion Lake Cree Nation Chief Wallace Fox.

Prentice also stated in his press conference that “amongst the strongest allies Alberta has at the table are the First Nations of this province who are in the energy business themselves and who are passionate about achieving west coast access.”

Onion Lake Cree Nation owns and operates Onion Lake Energy, an oil and gas venture.

“At the end of the day, we all want to get ahead and get out of the poverty-stricken situation many of our First Nations’ people are. But at the same time we need to have respect for each other as we move forward,” said Fox.

Rabbit pushes economic development one step further.

“We do understand and recognize that the mandate of this federal government and most likely the Progressive Conservatives here are in the oil and gas industry. But oil and gas as a resource isn’t always going to be there. We want to be part of the solution, we want to be part of the revenue sharing,” he said.

Goodfish First Nation Chief James Jackson Jr. says development is about respecting each Nation’s sovereign rights.

“There are proponents to the project as well as there are opponents, getting that mutual balance and understanding needs to be in existence. We can’t have one without the other. Mutual respect about our traditional areas, the impact these projects have with respect to our traditional uses is far reaching,” he said.

Rabbit agrees.

“Obviously with our role as First Nations’ people, being stewards of the land, we need to be careful and know what we’re doing in relation to oil and gas production,” he said.

In announcing his new Cabinet, Prentice held on to the portfolios of Aboriginal relations and international and intergovernmental relations.

All three Chiefs see Prentice’s decision to take on the Aboriginal relations portfolio as having potential. Prentice served as federal minister for Indian Affairs and Northern Development in 2006-2007 under the Harper government.

“It seems like it’s a very exciting time for Premier Prentice to take on this challenge. I know there is a multitude of issues that the First Nations face and as a premier to take on this huge challenge… there seems to be some genuine interest in resolving some of the outstanding issues and challenges that we’ve had as First Nations,” said Jackson.

“He’s got the background and experience … so he brings at least some knowledge, some understanding, some appreciation in the role that he’s appointed himself as minister and also premier-elect,” said Fox.

Prentice is the first Alberta premier to take on the Aboriginal relations portfolio. Previous governments, Aboriginal relations have combined with international, intergovernmental relations or northern development portfolios under specific ministers. Ed Stelmach was the first premier to establish Aboriginal relations as a separate ministry in 2010. Redford combined it once more with intergovernmental and international relations portfolio in 2011 before establishing it as a sole ministry in 2012.

“Obviously it does show that (Prentice) has an interest in First Nations’ issues. Only time is going to tell how his mandate works out,” said Rabbit.

Fox says that interest needs to be turned into careful action.

 “They need to take a step back and evaluate and see where this has taken them.  It hasn’t taken them obviously anywhere in a positive direction of our First Nations’ people,” he said.