Alberta chiefs meet with Prime Minister Mark Carney, discuss pipeline and MOU

A week after Prime Minister Mark Carney signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with Alberta Premier Danielle Smith, he invited First Nations leaders to speak with him. Only three chiefs were invited from Treaty 6, 7 and 8 territories-Chief Vernon Watchmaker of Kehewin Cree Nation, Chief Billy-Joe Tuccaro of Mikisew Cree First Nation and Chief Troy Knowlton of Piikani First Nation, all from Alberta. The meeting Wednesday took place in the west block on Parliament Hill while the chiefs were in Ottawa attending the Assembly of First Nations Special Chiefs Assembly. Chief Watchmaker told APTN News they discussed many topics with the Prime Minister, including the MOU he recently signed with Alberta Premier Danielle Smith, and a pipeline. Conversations also included the Natural Resources Transfer Agreement. Passed in 1930, it gives provinces control over land and resources, without consent from First Nations. Chief Watchmaker calls that agreement “unfinished business.” Chief Watchmaker says it will take time to build trust in the relationship with the federal government. “We heard many times before…’working more closely with the First Nations’, and nothing really came of it,” said Chief Watchmaker. “But what we’re looking for is that in good faith, like it says in the treaty, in good faith, that we work with you.” But some First Nations in the region are still awaiting a response from Prime Minister Mark Carney. “They’re going to be building a 400-kilometer pipeline, and they’re going to be storing it in my backyard,” says Chief Kelsey Jacko. “We’re not going to go anywhere, and we’re going to have to deal with it for 100 years to come.” He says he has sent many emails to the Prime Minister that are still unanswered. “A lot of money just goes to the municipalities back for us, next door to us, goes to the cities, goes to the provinces, and we’re left out of the equations,” says Chief Jacko. “We’re in a housing crisis. We have needs too.” Continue Reading