History was made in a Regina hotel this morning when the Kawacatoose First Nation, north of Regina, became the first reserve in Canada to take full control of its land and resource money.
It is being called a step away from the Indian Act and a major leap towards economic self-sufficiency.
Chief Darin Poorman officially signed the First Nations Oil and Gas and Moneys Management Act with federal Aboriginal Affairs Minister Bernard Valcourt. Poorman says it gives the band greater control of their economic destiny.
“So hopefully our people can enjoy the same benefits for seven generations. They will still be here and hopefully this will grow with out help and allow them to sustain themselves.”
This Act gives the First Nation the right to receive funds directly from mineral rights and use them as they see fit.
Before, the money was put in trust and required approval from the federal government before it could be released.
Valcourt is happy to give up control:
“Now that’s less work for me because I will no longer have to give permission for you to decide as a nation, as a community, what is good for your people. You will make that decision and that is good.”
This deal was years in the making. It is not an easy process. The Kawacatoose First Nation demonstrated through repeated audits it was open, transparent and fiscally responsible. FSIN Chief Perry Bellegarde says the reserve is a model for the rest of Canada:
“I am just so happy and proud to be here to witness this. On behalf of our federation, congratulations to the first First Nation in Canada to move beyond the Indian Act. So I salute you, I congratulate you and your team, chief and the minister for moving this forward in a good way.”
Bellegarde expects many other First Nations will follow suit. Any First Nation that has money held for them in trust by the federal government can apply to opt in to the Act, even if they don’t have oil and gas resources.