Duty To Consult - Alberta

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Media Release
Attention News Editors

Press Release

Métis Nation of Alberta Announces Workshops on Crown’s Duty to Consult and Accommodate Métis Rights in Province

‘Alberta Métis Continue To Push Forward On Rights-Based Agenda’

Edmonton (April 3, 2008) – Today, Audrey Poitras, President of the Métis Nation of Alberta (MNA) announced a series of workshops to be held across the province in order to provide Métis citizens the opportunity to discuss the Crown’s duty to consult and accommodate Métis rights as it relates to resource development and exploitation, and to develop a consultation strategy for creating and implementing and Alberta Métis Consultation Policy.

“Increasingly, our traditional lands, health and way of life are being affected by natural resources developments throughout the province. Our Elders and traditional resources users continue to raise concerns about the impacts of government decisions and industry activities on future generations. We need to take collective action on these important issues before it is too late.” President Poitras said. “As a rights-bearing Aboriginal people under Section 35, the Crown has a constitutional obligation to consult with us and accommodate our rights. Similar to the Métis Harvesting Policy, we mus now move forward and develop a Métis Consultation Policy that ensures Métis rights, interests and way of life is being respected by government and industry.”

“The honour of the Crown and the duty of fairness are always at stake in all of its dealing with Aboriginal peoples.” Cecil Bellrose, MNA Minister for Métis Rights said. “Therefore, we must build Métis capacity by bringing these issues to all Métis citizens living in villages, towns and cities across Alberta. A Métis Consultation Policy must be developed and supported by the Métis people. It cannot be developed by the government and imposed upon us.”

Workshops will be held in Calgary and Edmonton. At these workshops, MNA citizens will be provided the opportunity to learn more about the duty to consult and accommodate as well as provide their input on how the MNA should move forward on developing a Métis Consultation Policy. The workshops will also provide and update on Métis harvesting and Métis rights legal issues by Jason Madden and Jean Teillet.

The workshops are open to all MNA members and details on the workshop are provided below. MNA members who are interested in attending are encourages to pre-register in order to ensure adequate seating and refreshments are available.

Calgary Workshop
Saturday, April 19th , 2008
Coast Plaza Hotel
1316 – 33 Street NE
Calgary, AB
10:30 a.m.

Edmonton Workshop
Saturday, April 26th , 2008
Wingate Inn
18220 – 100 Avenue NW
Edmonton, AB
10:30 a.m.

For further information or to register contact:

Marilyn Underschultz
(780) 455-2200
munderschultz@metis.org