The leader of an Alberta First Nation says she wants bands across the Prairies to pull together to address the Natural Resources Transfer Agreement of 1930.
Rose Laboucan spoke this morning in Prince Albert at the opening day of a summit on the NRTA.
She says the transfer agreement, which essentially handed control of resources from Ottawa to the provinces, robbed First Nations of their fair share of minerals and oil and it must be changed.
Laboucan, who heads up the Driftpile First Nation, feels chiefs must set aside their own agendas and unite behind a common strategy:
“For once, I would like to see the chiefs of Alberta, Saskatchewan and Manitoba unite, work together to accomplish a goal — not for us, but for the future of our young people.”
Laboucan adds if the land gets destroyed, she doesn’t know where her people will go.
Marcel Head is the chief of the Shoal Lake Cree Nation.
Head says bands are taking all sorts of approaches to get their fair share of the wealth.
He favors a united strategy, but stresses the direction must come from the people:
“Some are suggesting to take a legal route and then some of them are taking a political route. To me, I’d prefer we get the mandate from our own people. It’s the people we represent who have to give that voice — whether it’s a united front.”
Head says he worries litigation could prolong the process — but, at the same time, he acknowledges some people feel that’s the way to go.
This week’s conference runs until Thursday.
Today’s assembly is being hosted by the Prince Albert Grand Council and includes First Nations from Alberta, Saskatchewan and Manitoba.