PUBLIC NOTICE: Métis Nation of Alberta – Open House

PUBLIC NOTICE: Métis Nation of Alberta – Open House
January 21, 2009, 4:00pm to 9:00pm

AT Lakeview Inn, Fort Saskatchewan, AB

PURPOSE:

Métis Traditional Land Use Study& Métis Consultation on Alberta’s Industrial Heartland
Fort Saskatchewan, AB –
Lakeview Inn
10115 - 88th Avenue (between HWY 15 & HWY 21)

Wednesday, January 21, 2009 – 4:00pm to 9:00pm

DINNER PROVIDED (please RSVP)

The Métis Regional Councils of Region 2 and Region 4 of the Métis Nation of Alberta (MNA) are hosting Open Houses for its members in an effort to study its peoples’ cultural and traditional land use knowledge, and to assist in the development of a broader Métis Consultation Policy.

The Traditional Land Use Study will involve interviews and site visits with Métis harvesters who hunt, trap, fish, and use the land’s natural resources for sustenance and cultural purposes. The study will also document historical data of Métis people such as old settlements, gravesites, and economic routes to understand how our heritage has evolved in the area.

The Open House will be an opportunity for Métis people to share their traditional knowledge of the Industrial Heartland area north of Fort Saskatchewan. We hope it will help identify more Métis harvesters and Elders who can be interviewed.

The session will also provide MNA members an opportunity to have input on the principles and framework of the proposed Métis Consultation Policy. This policy will be implemented by MNA as a guide for Government and Industry proponents from major projects who will need to consult with the Métis Nation of Alberta, its Regional Councils and local membership.

While the MNA intends to conduct similar studies across the province, Alberta’s Industrial Heartland located between Regions 2 & 4 will be the focus of this regional study area, to bring insight and raise community awareness of the environmental impacts of future development on Métis/Aboriginal rights.

Alberta’s ‘Industrial Heartland’ includes the City of Fort Saskatchewan, Strathcona County, Sturgeon County and Lamont County. Pending developments and projects currently underway in this area is known as ‘Upgrader Alley’.

It is the MNA’s position that the proponents or companies applying to build these projects have a constitutional and legal duty to consult the Métis community on such developments. As part of each proponent’s environmental impact assessment, the traditional land use studies will demonstrate how Métis harvesting rights will be impacted.

The MNA’s intention is not to impede economic development, but to ensure that projects consider how the impacts on air, land and water will affect citizens and our traditional way of life. As well, such research and consultations will enable the MNA to negotiate accommodations for Métis people to benefit from development in our communities.

The MNA welcomes its members to come and share their knowledge and learn more about these initiatives.

Please join us.