Native leaders want Alberta to share its wealth
Posted Jan 30, 2013 7:13 am.
This article is more than 5 years old.
First Nations leaders are looking to benefit from Canada’s natural resource wealth; more specifically, from Alberta’s oilsands.
The leaders are meeting in Calgary for the 2013 Winter Assembly of Treaty Chiefs.
Treaty 7 Grand Chief Charles Weaselhead tells The Calgary Sun Alberta has benefitted financially from the resources on traditional land, and there has to be a way the wealth can be shared.
He says it is more than just handing over some money; he suggests looking at employing more aboriginals in the oil and gas sector and re-evaluating a 1930’s agreement with the provincial and federal governments about treaty and resource rights.
Former Chief of the Assembly of First Nations, Ovide Mercredi, says the prime minister will have no choice but to deal with them fairly because most of Canada’s resources are on First Nations land.
