New Treaty 6 Grand Chief George Arcand Jr. needs to place into motion agreements signed with the province of Alberta and the Metropolis of Edmonton a pair years again.
However first, he needs to get all 17 members of the Confederacy of Treaty Six First Nations on the identical web page.
“This could be the problem, however my intention is to have 17 voices which can be making directional, principled selections as we transfer ahead,” mentioned Arcand.
The confederacy covers a swath throughout central Alberta and consists of the Metropolis of Edmonton.
In December 2020, the confederacy signed a protocol settlement with the province outlining a proper course of for ministers, chiefs and councils to satisfy all year long to concentrate on six priorities: land and assets, well being care, schooling, justice, financial growth, and tradition and tourism.
It additionally dedicated to a yearly assembly with the premier. Cupboard ministers with associated portfolios would additionally be a part of protocol tables. Nonetheless, the protocol settlement doesn't commit the Alberta authorities to taking motion.
In September 2021, the confederacy signed a memorandum of understanding with the Metropolis of Edmonton that dedicated them, partly “to ongoing dialogues and cooperative effort round shared points and pursuits that have an effect on the long-term well-being of all folks that decision Edmonton their residence.”
“My view (is) we'd like the entire nations to be supportive of the entire areas of debate,” mentioned Arcand.
“So as to do this I feel it will be needed for us to proceed engaged on guaranteeing that the entire nations within the confederacy are a part of the decision-making, a part of the method.”
He expects to construct that technique of inclusion with chiefs over the following few months after which “absolutely partaking” with the province and town on the problems by means of quite a lot of dialogue tables.
For town, Arcand says his prime precedence “is guaranteeing that the companies for our city members are being on the forefront of all of our discussions round programming.”
A few of the city points he identifies are homelessness, entry to packages and companies, and financial alternatives.
Arcand additionally says he want to proceed discussions of organising an city reserve in Edmonton. Town authorised an city reserve technique in June 2021.
Discussions are additionally ongoing with town and the province about recognizing the location the place the signing of the adhesion to Treaty 6 occurred in 1877.
“These sorts of issues in my opinion are reconciliation items, whereby we're all agreeing to have a recognition and celebration and everyone recognizing this particular website,” mentioned Arcand.
For the province, atmosphere is a key subject of concern.
“We wish to guarantee environmental points associated to any of our territories are being sorted and are on the forefront of anyone’s dialogue,” mentioned Arcand.
He admits that discussions don’t essentially result in being listened to or beneficial outcomes. He says he doesn’t need “lip service” from the province however needs assurance that the ministers are on the desk to search out options to points recognized.
“It’s going to be a problem as a result of among the points, after all, round well being for instance, or policing, the federal government has a selected view about policing and, after all, the First Nations have a selected view. Is there a medium? Is there a technique to have the dialogue? We haven’t begun these discussions formally,” mentioned Arcand.
Final yr, the province undertook a examine to maneuver ahead on changing the RCMP with a provincial police drive. The commissioned report that gave the nod to a provincial police drive famous, “This venture had restricted dialogue with First Nations and Métis teams in Alberta within the growth of this report (and) that isn't thought-about enough engagement with these communities.”
A provincial police drive isn't a transfer supported by First Nations. The province has dedicated to consulting with Indigenous communities on the problem.
Arcand, who can also be chief of the Alexander First Nation, formally turned grand chief in a switch ceremony on Jan. 7. The confederacy’s bylaws name for the grand chief to be a sitting chief in one of many 17 nations and to serve a one-year time period.
Arcand admits that serving a single yr “is harder,” however factors out that the confederacy has had quite a few strategic planning classes over the previous three years to set course.
He says success for him in his time period shall be coping with points in a “extra strategic method.”
“So for me, it’s getting the chiefs to agree to maneuver forward on a selected course and, I imagine, if we will empower the chiefs to be a part of the decision-making and a part of the method, we may have achieved what we would have liked to attain,” mentioned Arcand.
He additionally mentioned that unity inside the confederacy will give the nations a stronger voice when discussing points on a nationwide foundation on the Meeting of First Nations.
Windspeaker.com