Bands need an authority on resources ? Dion

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The Indian Resource Council (IRC) is making progress in assisting bands in resource management and ownership on their land.

But, the group must first persuade Department of Indian and Northern Affairs (DIAND) minister Bill McKnight that they are an authority on resource handling ? not just an advisory committee. If the council is to have a real influence on Indian resource management, a financial commitment by Indian Affairs and the resource bands of Canada is required.

Speaking at last week's All-Chiefs Conference at Enoch reserve, near Edmonton, council chairman Joe Dion, who is also president of Dion Resources Consulting Services Ltd., told chiefs about he hurdles his group must clear. Since June, when the council was formally established, he has attempted to set a meeting with McKnight to discuss the council's mandate and funding.

Dion sees the council as a "cartel of resource bands coming together to take full control of resource management." He told Windspeaker, after the conference, that "we can become a powerful economic force in Indian country, and maybe in all of Canada if we can use our influence in government, band and oil industry negotiations."

But, the federal government does not see the IRC as having as much control over resource management as Dion would like to see. The government has endorsed the idea of such a council, but argues that if equal responsibility is given to both the IRC and the department (Indian Oil and Gas Canada, formerly Indian Minerals West) the situation would be "unworkable."

IRC participation in corporate plans, resource allocation, priority setting, policy decisions and organization with the Indian Oil and Gas Canada is possible, but unless the Federal Trust responsibility is transferred, final authority must stay with the government, according to Bruce Rawson, former DIAND deputy minister.

"We would like to determine just how much direct influence we can have," explains Dion, referring to the importance of sitting down and discussing this subject with McKnight. He adds that a date for a meeting with the minister may take place some time this month.

AT that time, his group will also try to secure $50,000 in seed funding in order to get the Resource Council in an operational mode. IRC members from Alberta, B.C., Saskatchewan and Ontario have agreed to solicit funds from their organizations and bands in support of the council and the government will be asked to provide matching amounts of money. An initial bid to have the government provide all council funding was rejected.

Since June, the IRC regulation sub-committee has met with industry representatives on proposed amendments to the Indian oil and gas regulations. Toward the eventuality of bands having greater involvement in resource management, such as giving licenses to oil companies for resource exploration and development. Industry representatives provided useful information.

"They told us they would continue to keep such things as seismic information and economic analysis of potential wells confidential, and provide us only with the same information given to the government," says Dion. More importantly, he points out, they are getting the idea they should talk to Indian bands first and the federal government second.