Construction of pipeline brings Aboriginal employment

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The construction of a $4 billion natural gas pipeline is scheduled to begin in Alberta in the new year with help from Aboriginal people. The partnership was marked by the signing of contracts by the Metis Zone IV Regional Council, Metis Nation of Alberta and the Western Cree Tribal Council with Alliance Pipeline.

The contract between Alliance and the Metis will see Metis people employed to clear the right-of-way for the pipeline. The clearing of 93 kilometres near the Metis community of Marlboro is scheduled to begin in January and completed in the spring. The contract work will take place primarily in the Edson area west of Edmonton.

"Reaching out to Metis and Aboriginal communities is part of Alliance's commitment to local communities and partnerships," said Dennis Cornelson, president and CEO of Alliance Pipeline. Cornelson attended a signing ceremony on Dec. 16 at the Metis Nation of Alberta's head office and indicated the right-of-way clearing contract with the Metis is just the beginning. The Metis Regional Council has formed an organization called Metis Opportunities Inc. to hire and screen personnel for the Alliance contract.

Cornelson said Alliance's consultative approach with Aboriginal communities in regards to the pipeline construction is part of the reason Alliance is able to proceed with the project. Alliance hired two Aboriginal liaison representatives to contact Aboriginal people in their communities near pipeline construction sites.

The president of the Marlboro Metis local, Bruce Belcourt, is involved in the discussions between Alliance and his community.

"We've had people from Alliance down to Marlboro to tell us about the pipeline going near our community, which means some of our people will get jobs," said Belcourt. He is optimistic about the project for the Metis community's economic development and for the employment opportunities that will result.

The natural gas pipeline will start near Fort St. John, B.C. and make its way through Alberta and Saskatchewan to its destination of Chicago, Illinois, where it will connect with the North American pipeline grid. The overall length of the pipeline will be nearly 3,000 kilometres with more than half of its length in Canada. The pipeline will be buried for its entire length except for the above ground facilities like compressor stations.

The pipeline is expected to be completed in 2001. A spokesperson for Alliance said most of the pipeline will be built in existing utility corridors to reduce the amount of clearing of right-of-ways.

The Western Cree Tribal Council has three First Nation bands that make up the council, Horse Lake, Sturgeon Lake and Duncan's First Nation. The council has also signed a contract with Alliance for right-of-way clearing that is about 62 kilometres long near Fox Creek, Alta.

Touted as a multi-million dollar contract for the council, Grand Chief Robert Horseman said it is their intention to become working partners in the economic development that occurs in their traditional land use areas.

In Saskatchewan another group of First Nations will be working together because of an agreement signed with Alliance. The agreement, signed in August, is a contract for services to haul pipe produced at a Saskatchewan mill to locations along the pipeline site in Saskatchewan.

Cornelson credits the Federation of Saskatchewan Indian Nations, Treaty 4 and Treaty 6 for the completion of the successful partnership.