Examines Aboriginal issues pertinent to the development of oil and gas reserves within Alberta, such as unresolved First Nations Treaty and land claim issues and federal and provincial requirements for consultation on treaty and fiduciary obligations.
International Indigenous Policy Journal, vol. 2, no. 2, 2011, pp. 1-15
Description
Reviews First Nations' role in provincial land and resource management and conservation and the related opportunities and challenges of Conservancy designation.
Looks at a transfer of jurisdiction and authorities to territorial or Indigenous self governments, from the federal government, and the importance of both power and revenue sharing among governments for promoting sustainable economic development.
The file contains a presentation Chief Bernadette Unka of the Deninu Kue First Nation. Chief Unka discusses the history of her people who reside at Fort Resolution, NWT. Chief Unka discusses how Treaty, Metis, and Euro-Canadian people were at one time united in one government at the community, but how her people re-established band governance in 1990 due to their Treaty rights being slowly eroded.
The file contains a presentation by Tony Hall, Professor of Native American Studies Education, University of Lethbridge. Hall discusses his interpretation of the Commission's role and powers, Treaty right issues (particularly as they pertain to Treaty 7), International law, Federal-Provincial-Aboriginal governmental relations, the Oldman River dispute between the Peigan and the Canadian and Alberta governments, and a host of related issues. Following the presentation Commissioner Erasmus discusses some of the issues raised with Hall.