Preserving TraditionsThe Role of MSGC Consultation Office in Upholding Metis Settlement RightsOne of the foundational reasons for establishing the Metis Settlements nine decades ago was to preserve the traditional way of life, and in doing so, require that governments and industries consult with Settlement governments on activity in their regions. To help members understand their rights as they relate to harvesting and consultation, and to have a central point of contact for government and business, MSGC established a consultation office. The office provides technical training, information, and policy support to the Metis Settlements local consultation offices, the MSGC Consultation and Harvesting Committees, and the MSGC Board and Assembly. |
What does consultation mean for the Settlements?
Alberta’s Metis Settlements Consultation Policy was passed in December 2015 and implemented in April 2016. This means that the Government of Alberta is now requiring industry to consult with Metis Settlements when their proposed project has the potential to negatively impact how Metis Settlements use the Crown lands outside their Settlement area.
Typically, this means that the Settlement consultation coordinator or officer will receive notice of a proposed project and will need to work with the Settlement land users, Council, and membership to assess what kind of impact the project might have for the community. They then need to negotiate with the industry proponent to try to minimize any potential impacts, usually by modifying the project plan or schedule. While the consultation process itself is not about economic opportunities or benefits, it can in some cases lead to a good relationship with industry proponents or the opportunity for the Settlement to participate in land development projects via jobs, contracts, or even partnerships.
The Consultation Policy does not result in every Settlement being consulted on every proposed project; the government uses traditional land use information provided by the Settlement to help it determine whether or not consultation is required. The more traditional land use information the Settlement can provide to the government, the more the Settlement will be consulted and have a say in what is happening on the lands outside their Settlement area.
This is why it is so important for Settlement members to work with their consultation coordinator or officer to help them map out where the Settlement has used the land in the past and where it continues to do so.
See the Government of Alberta Indigenous Consultations policies and guidelines.
Background Information
In 2004, the Supreme Court of Canada released its decision in the Haida Nation v. British Columbia case. This case was about whether or not the government (the “Crown”) was required to consult with Aboriginal communities before making decisions that could negatively impact the Aboriginal rights of those communities. The Haida Nation was successful in proving that the British Columbia government had a responsibility to consult with them before making decisions about lands and natural resource development.
The court said that this responsibility of the government, also known as the Crown’s “duty to consult” was rooted in a basic principle of the “Honour of the Crown” which goes back to the establishment of British sovereignty in this country. The Haida Nation v. British Columbia decision defined consultation as a process of reconciliation where the Crown’s sovereignty must take into consideration and address the claims, rights and interests of the Aboriginal communities who were here before. This case set the standards for when the Crown has a “duty to consult” and how consultation should occur.
Since 2004, there have been other Supreme Court cases that have expanded on the Haida decision and have both widened and narrowed the scope of the Crown’s duty to consult. Canada and the provinces have responded to the Supreme Court’s direction by developing consultation policies and guidelines that explain how and when they will consult with Aboriginal communities. In Alberta, up until recently, the provincial consultation policy applied only to First Nations; Metis communities, including the Settlements, were not consulted except in special circumstances.
During the negotiation of the Alberta/Metis Settlements Long Term Arrangements Agreement (LTA), the Metis Settlements successfully lobbied for a Metis Settlements consultation policy. Schedule “I” of the LTA commits Alberta and the Metis Settlements to the following:
- Complete the conduct and assessment of historical presence and activity research (community history and traditional land use study
- Enter into good faith discussions regarding the development of a Government of Alberta Metis Settlements Consultation Policy
- Once a Consultation Policy is developed and approved, the Minister of Indigenous Relations will provide consultation capacity funding to each Settlement
- Provide a maximum of $9.7 million over the term of the LTA (2013 – 2023) for consultation initiatives
The parties agreed that the agreements and arrangements made under Schedule “I” will survive the expiry or early termination of the LTA. This means that after 2023, the Government of Alberta will continue to consult with Metis Settlements. It also means the province will continue to provide consultation capacity to individual Settlements once the $9.7 million of LTA funds runs out.
Harvesting Documents and Resources
MSGC Harvesting Application 2023
Geneology & Family Tree Booklet
Fillable Council resolution template Draft
Metis Harvesting Policy In Alberta
Framework for Advancing Reconciliation with Government of Canada
“Not all water bodies are covered under a Domestic Fishing License. If you would like to fish in a water body not listed in the DFL Conditions, you will need to purchase a sport-fishing license and follow the applicable sport-fishing rules.”
Federal Consultation Resources
The Metis Settlements General Council receives funding from the Government of Canada to assist the communities with their engagement with industry and government partners.
The Government of Canada is responsible for decision-making about the following kinds of activities:
- Inter-provincial pipelines
- Nuclear power projects
- Disposal of or modification to federal Crown Lands (i.e. military, parks etc.)
- Creation or modification of national parks
- Decisions affecting navigable waters
- Environmental assessments (federal)
- Other decisions made under federal legislation or regulations that may adversely impact Aboriginal rights.
CONTACT
Your Harvesting & Consultation Leader
Roy Auger, Harvesting & Consultation Director
tel.: (780) 822 4062
email: RAuger@msgc.ca