A First Nation in the Peace Region will be joining the Alberta government in challenging what many politicians have called the anti-pipeline bill.
Indigenous Affairs Minister, Rick Wilson announced that the Woodland Cree First Nation would be receiving a grant for $187,688 to intervene in support of the province’s constitutional challenge of Bill C-69, the Impact Assessment Act.
The government set up the $10 million Indigenous Litigation Fund to help first nations join legal battles in relation to the development of natural resources.
According to Premier, Jason Kenney, the Woodland Cree First Nation is the first to receive a grant from the fund.
“I am pleased to work with Chief Isaac Laboucan-Avirom of the Woodland Cree First Nation to announce the latest steps in enhancing the voices of First Nations in Alberta to stand up for their own interests. The Indigenous Litigation Fund will help Indigenous communities protect their legal right to participate in and benefit from the development of the resources underneath the lands they have called home for generations,” says Kenney in an e-mail statement.
Indigenous Affairs Minister, Rick Wilson says the fund was set up so First Nations can have a say in how the resources on their lands are developed, as well as have a voice in the legal process.
“Some of the stuff the federal government is pushing forward just holds back and Alberta and First Nations Peoples,” points out Wilson.
“There is such an opportunity right now for Indigenous people to become partners in prosperity. I don’t think there has been a government before that has wanted to work so closely with the First Nations people and all Indiginous people and give them an opportunity to stand up for their rights.”
Chief Laboucan-Avirom says his council is opposed to Bill C-69 as well as Bill C-48, which is also referred to as the anti-tanker bill.
“I really feel that these bills were legislated without proper consultation,” points out Laboucan-Avirom. “If you have a lot of western provinces and people throughout the country saying ‘hey, let’s slow down and think about this in more detail’ and it still gets rammed through legislation, then something is wrong with the process.”
Laboucan-Avirom tells the Trending 55 Newsroom that the Woodland Cree Nation is up for the challenge of fighting Bill C-69 and feels the repealing of that bill would not just benefit his people, but the entire region.
“Woodland Cree territory is located right by the Town of Peace River, and that town is facing economic hardship,” explains Laboucan-Avirom.
“There are foreclosures, people losing their vehicles; there is just not enough work to go around. I am hoping to stimulate work in our backyard and getting as many of the Woodland Cree people to work so this legal challenges is very important for us.”
Wilson says the government feels good about its challenge of Bill C-69 following the Supreme Court of Alberta ruling on Monday that the federal carbon tax is unconstitutional.
“That starts the whole momentum going forward,” explains Wilson. “The federal government is going beyond the constitution. The provinces and Indigenous people have rights that are being infringed upon.”
Laboucan-Avirom has praise for the approach the UCP government is taking towards Indigenous relations.
“This is a very positive movement forward,” says Laboucan-Avirom. “I would like to be Alberta’s ally and the media sometimes mistakes that. We are here to work together and forge a friendship that benefits generations to come.”
– Kenny Trenton, Trending 55 Newsroom
