We all can play a positive role in reconciliation

Lubicon band faces challenges, writes Chief Billy Joe Laboucan

This morning, I’ll be meeting with Premier Jim Prentice and Aboriginal Affairs Minister Bernard Valcourt to announce a significant development in the ongoing land claim talks between the Lubicon Lake Band and the government of Canada. It’s an important milestone that builds on the negotiation framework we signed with Canada in December.

Albertans, Canadians and the Lubicon can be proud of the progress we’re making. Less than three years ago, this would have been impossible. Today, it’s important to reflect on how far we’ve come, the effort that’s been required to get here, and the support and fortitude we’ll need from all quarters in facing the potential bumps, detours and risks that remain ahead on the road to reconciliation.

The recent history of our nation hasn’t been easy. We sit among the second largest oilsands deposit in the province, and yet for years, our community has gone without running water, sewers or even recognized government. With an unsettled land claim and divided leadership, our people were stuck for decades in a limbo fuelled by tens of millions of dollars of unaccounted resource revenue. Doing business in communities without clear governance is never a good idea. Fortunately for the Lubicon, we have a government again.

Two years ago, our community said enough was enough. We held an election using a legitimate election code and secret ballot. Our new chief and council were recognized by Canada and Alberta, and this jump- started our land claim and produced positive changes for our community.

As our nation emerges from the fog of limbo, gathering ourselves and moving forward with reconciliation, we must avoid the old sources of division. In this respect, the media, resource companies and civil society all have a role to play in supporting us. This means doing due diligence in researching our community before reporting stories, donating to “causes,” or undertaking resource development that involves our traditional territory.

By now, most companies have eschewed the “divide and conquer” style of consultation, correctly understanding that resource revenues and decision- making must flow through our nation’s democratically elected government. However, not all have, and even the smallest amounts of misappropriated funding, or misplaced media coverage, breathe new life into those who would threaten to stunt the progress our community has made in making a new reality for ourselves.

Nine days ago, Murphy Oil revealed it had spilled 17,000 barrels of condensate in our territory. Rather than reporting the spill to our community’s elected chief and council in a timely fashion, the company chose to report it to the former, unelected chief first. This delayed our community from taking action to engage with cleanup efforts and resulted in a breach of territorial protocol with neighbouring nations. We have since written to the CEO of Murphy Oil, reminding him of our new governance.

When the condensate story broke, The Canadian Press dutifully reported the spill with the headline, “Lubicon Lake chief responds to Murphy oil spill in northern Alberta,” thereby legitimizing the old unelected chief and perpetuating public confusion about our nation. This is just one example of how poor consultation practices and poor reporting can work to destabilize a community.

Civil society isn’t immune to having a destabilizing effect either.

McGill University recently invited family members of the old administration — a family identified in a recent forensic audit as having paid itself more than $ 3.3 million dollars over a four- year period from our community’s development corporation — to speak about aboriginal title. We told the event organizers the speakers were unelected and subject to a request to participate in restorative justice circles. We never heard back.

A nation must be strong and stable before it can discern its own truth and intention to reconcile, both with itself and with other governments. The approach that Canada and Alberta are taking to our land claim negotiations is positive and shows an appreciation of those needs.

We all have a role to play in supporting reconciliation.