Treaty land entitlement settled at Alexander First Nation

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At a formal ceremony in October at the Alexander First Nation Community Hall, the governments of Canada and Alberta and the Alexander First Nation announced the settlement of a treaty land entitlement agreement.

The settlement will provide the Alexander First Nation with up to 15,140 additional acres of reserve land.

Jane Stewart, federal minister of Indian Affairs, Alberta Premier Ralph Klein, Chief Stanley Arcand of the Alexander First Nation, and Alberta's Minister of Intergovernmental and Aboriginal Affairs Dave Hancock were just some of the dignitaries in attendance.

The claim has been long outstanding. It fulfills the reserve land provision of Treaty 6, which was signed in 1877. Under the reserve land provision of Treaty 6, Alexander was promised 128 acres of reserve lands per person. A problem arose when a number of community members were not counted for the purpose of the land survey, resulting in a shortfall of land.

"It's been a hard, long road for so many years. It hasn't been an overnight thing," said Lottie Belcourt, an Elder with the Alexander First Nation.

Ralph Klein was the first of the speakers to address the packed crowd. He noted how the unique settlement presented some challenges as some of the land had to be acquired through negotiation with private land owners.

"By working together in the true spirit of co-operation we were able to get this done," Klein said.

Under the agreement, 5,140 acres of new reserve land from two sites will be transferred and added to the existing reserve. The lands include 5,130 acres of unoccupied provincial Crown land in the vicinity of Fox Creek, including mines and minerals, and also 10 acres of provincial Crown land in the vicinity of Fort Assiniboine, including the existing ranger station.

Up to 10,000 acres of future reserve land can be purchased within an agreed upon 12,000 acre purchase area, located to the immediate north and east of the existing reserve. The future land purchases will be bought on a "willing seller, willing buyer" basis over an indefinite period of time.

The purchases will be made with $7 million provided by the federal government and $3 million from the provincial government. This money will be put in a special trust account. It will be used solely for the purchase of land and the long-term benefit and use of Alexander and its members.

"Alberta has a constitutional obligation to provide the Government of Canada lands required to fulfill treaty promises," said Alberta Minister Dave Hancock. Canada accepted Alexander's claim in 1992 when it validated research by the First Nation that demonstrated the land shortfall.

"Today, we have fulfilled those historic promises, balancing them fairly and equitably with the interests of other Albertans. This settlement gives some very significant resources to Alexander First Nation and provides more living space."

Don Langford, communications consultant for the Alexander First Nation, noted the reserve population is growing at a rate 2.5 times greater than the non-Aboriginal population. Alexander First Nation, a member of Treaty 6, has 1,343 members and an on-reserve population of 742.

Chief Stanley Arcand thanked Ralph Klein and the provincial and federal governments for their support for settling the very complex agreement.

"The agreement has always been about one thing, our treaty," said Chief Arcand. "Our Elders have always insisted that our treaty be honored by the Crown in the right of Canada, as long as the sun shines, the grass grows and the rivers flow."

Federal Minister Jane Stewart took a philosophical view of the land agreement.

"This is not just about land settlement, but about issues of relationships also," she said.