Métis Nation wants more rights within Wood Buffalo park
Greater access and improved land use rights in Wood Buffalo National Park by members of the Northwest Territory Métis Nation will continue to be a central focal point of negotiations this year between the federal government and the government of the Northwest Territories, president Garry Bailey said.
Métis were forced out of the national park, located in northeastern Alberta and the southern Northwest Territories, after it was formed in 1923 and they have been fighting ever since to regain their traditional land use rights, including harvesting, access and park management, Bailey said.
The land in question — about 260 square kilometres — had been part of the Dene/Métis agreement signed in the 1980s. However, when that land claim agreement process collapsed a decade later, Métis access to the land was left in limbo, he said.
“We are just looking for our fair share,” he said.
“Right now they are allowing us to harvest in the park. However they are not making any policies or legislation that says Métis are rights holders and have the right to be harvesting in Wood Buffalo. They are just turning a blind eye right now.
“So during these negotiations we want to ensure we get our fair share of land to do with what we want to do.”
All three bodies signed an agreement in principle in July 2015 and are basing their final agreement negotiations on that document. The final agreement will designate Métis ownership of about 25,000 square kilometres of land across the Northwest Territories, including 1,133 square kilometres that contains mines and minerals.
It also included a one-time capital transfer payment of $69.4 million, resource revenue sharing of 0.912 per cent of mineral royalties and, most importantly, the ability of the Métis group to self governance. Those final numbers are also under negotiation but have not been released.
“The details related to matters under negotiation for a final agreement are best left to the negotiation table,” said Valérie Haché, a spokeswoman for Indigenous and Northern Affairs Canada.
“Generally, negotiations of this nature are complex and address many issues from land ownership to harvesting rights to roles in resource management regimes.”
The entire final agreement process is expected to take another two years, after which it will need to be ratified by a majority of eligible voters.
It is hoped that the implementation of the final agreement could take place in 2021.
“We are optimistic for sure but I do know there is a lot more work to be done,” Bailey said.
Haché added that the groups are “working collaboratively to renew the relationship based on recognition of rights, respect, cooperation and partnership is key to achieving reconciliation with Indigenous peoples in Canada.”
A final agreement will be accompanied
During these negotiations we want to ensure we get our fair share of land to do with what we want to do.
by an implementation plan and associated funding agreements, Haché said.
“Indigenous groups must engage with their membership to build understanding and support within the community and engage in overlap discussions with neighbouring Indigenous groups,” she said. “Government must also carry out consultations with other Indigenous groups. A final agreement could be concluded in three to five years.”
The Northwest Territory Métis Nation, based in Fort Smith, N.W.T., represents Métis from the South Slave region of the Northwest Territories and includes the Fort Smith Métis Council, Hay River Métis Government Council and the Fort Resolution Métis Council.