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LAKELAND - Treaty Six First Nations and the provincial government have signed an agreement that will open the doors for ministers, chiefs, and councils to sit together regularly to discuss important issues like healthcare, education, and economic development.
Treaty Six consists of Cold Lake First Nations, Beaver Lake Cree Nation, Frog Lake First Nation, Whitefish Lake First Nation, Alexander First Nation, Alexis Nakota Sioux Nation, Enoch Cree Nation, Ernimskin Cree Nation, Kehewin Cree Nation, Whitefish Lake First Nation, Louis Bull Tribe, Montana First Nation, Ochiese First Nation, Paul First Nation, Samson Cree Nation, Sunchild First Nation and Heart Lake Cree Nation.
The Alberta-Confederacy of Treaty Six First Nations Protocol Agreement is put in place for both the government and Treaty Six First Nations to have more meaningful conversations and get to the root of some long-standing issues, says local MLA Laila Goodridge, who’s Fort McMurray to Lac La Biche provincial riding borders several of the northern nations in the confederacy.
Goodridge says it is the first formal agreement signed with the Treaty Six First Nations in over a dozen years, and she is excited to have such an important agreement put in place.
“It is a historical protocol agreement that establishes a true partnership of the Confederacy of the Treaty Six First Nations with the government of Alberta, so that we can work in collaboration to address economic and social issues,” said the MLA. “It really allows a path forward to find reconciliation, and a prosperous future for First Nations in Alberta.”
Within the agreement, Treaty Six First Nations will have multiple meetings throughout the year, and chiefs will also have an annual meeting with the Alberta premier.
The government will also provide a $300,000 grant to support the implementation of the agreement.
Proven to be successful
Goodridge says this same kind of agreement has proven to be successful with the Blackfoot Confederacy Protocol and has led to positive, concrete outcomes like Alberta Education providing $200,000 toward the Blackfoot language initiative program, which strives to keep Indigenous languages alive. She says that through these protocols, the government has a better understanding of the problems that Indigenous people face.
“So the protocols really have helped the Alberta government work with these First Nations governments,” said Goodridge. “I’m very proud of the work our government is doing in that they are making our First Nations be partners in our prosperity.”
Leadership members of the Heart Lake First Nation and Beaver Lake Cree Nation were contacted for a comment on the agreement, but officials from neither community responded.
