Two First Nations receive economic boost from INAC

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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 Affirs 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.