Premier Rachel Notley is in Grande Prairie today.
She made her way to the Swan City to meet up with Treaty 8 First Nations leaders.
Premier Rachel Notley. (File Photo)
Prior to the meeting, the premier took the time to speak with the Trending 55 Newsroom.
“First Nations and First Nations leadership are a fundamental part in the work we have to do to grow the Alberta economy,” said Notley. “And to do that effectively, we have to make sure that we do engage with them respectfully, right from the very outset.”
One issue she says is on the minds of First Nations leaders is resource management.
“How we ensure that First Nations communities are given the kinds of economic benefits, and that we can share in the economic benefits, is very important,” Notley said. “We also need to have appropriate forms of consultation with them, that accommodate both their issues, and their needs.”
Over the past year, various Treaty groups have been signed protocol agreements with the provincial government.
“Treaty 8 was the first to sign the agreement,” she said. “We’re still working our way through the rest of the groups. We’re still trying to get a final agreement signed with Treaty 6, and we have a similar agreement already signed with the Blackfoot Confederacy. We also have an Indigenous Affairs minister who meets with each group on a regular basis.”
She also praised the minister, Richard Feehan, for getting a new infrastructure act passed for First Nations people.
“It’ll allow us correct a huge injustice committed by the province,” said Notley. “Some communities are still in need of access to clean drinking water, and there’s no excuse for that in a province like Alberta.”
As a result, Feehan announced that $100-million in order to help deliver that clean drinking water to each community that needs it.
Notley is meeting with the leaders throughout the afternoon.
– Posted by BET
