Forums bring together First Nations and municipalities to talk land
- EFN Staff | December 21, 2015
A new series of forums began recently discussing economic development and wealth creation through Indigenous land developments. The forums are the result of a new partnership between the Federation of Saskatchewan Indian Nations, the federal and provincial governments, the University of Saskatchewan, the City’s of Regina and Saskatoon, along with the Saskatoon Regional Economic Development Authority. Land development opportunity is vast with over half a billion in settlement funds for Saskatchewan First Nations since 1992.
“Our forum committee has assembled the top experts and leaders in First Nation land and resource development with the overall objective to creating opportunities for our communities to develop their lands through partnership. We believe these forums provide an excellent opportunity to educate, network and create those opportunities to develop lands and generate economic development,” FSIN Vice Chief Bob Merasty said.
The Prosperity through Partnerships Conference: Communities Coming Together is a three-part conference series that brings together land development experts in all areas of reserve, Treaty Land Entitlement, Specific Claims and urban reserve development together to educate, discuss and strike partnerships to develop those lands.
Sakimay First Nation Chief Lynn Acoose was on hand to present about her First Nations opportunities. They have over 6000 acres to develop from a specific claim over an illegal surrender and they also have land from their flood claim to develop. “We have turned most of it into reserve and we are focusing on developing those lands right now. We have had urban land in Yorkton since about 1997,” said Chief Acoose. “It was the choice of the people and leadership of the day. 45% of our people live in Regina and we have 2 satellite reserves near Yorkton. So we bought where our people were.”
Sakimay has a beautiful piece of land just west of Regina bordered by Westera which is zoned commercial/residential development and to the east is the Global Transportation Hub. They also own land in the south and south east sides of the city. This presents lots of development opportunities to the band.
“We want to build social capital as well as wealth. We want jobs and we want to go into sectors that will provide a living for our people,” said Chief Acoose. “Ultimately we want to create our own revenue base so we can achieve self determination and not be dependent on anybody. That’s why we focus on economic development.”
The forums present workshops and discussions centred on issues such as reserve creation and land management on-reserve, reconciling land claims, collaborating with municipalities, urban planning, legislative reforms, land acquisition strategies, developing on specific claim lands, communicating effectively with First Nation governments and communities and developing effective partnerships with government and the private sector.
“It is a new era of opportunity for First Nations and all communities. The new economy is going to need the full participation of First Nations if we are to be successful, and we are committed to facilitating and assisting our communities and our partners to develop new wealth and economic development opportunities through claims lands,” Vice Chief Merasty said.
The Prosperity through Partnerships Conference part one was held December 15th and 16th at the Travelodge Hotel in Saskatoon. Conference number two will be in Regina January 13 and 14 and then an urban reserve focused conference happens in Saskatoon February 10 and 11th. Registration and other information can be found at www.fsin.com.