The Metis Settlements General Council (MSGC) in conjunction with the Liberal federal government, is seeking to create two indigenous protected and conserved areas (IPCA) in the Athabasca and Cold Lake region and some lakelanders are trying to put a stop to it..According to a draft of a letter from Toma Consulting, a Canadian firm focused on specialized management consulting, the MSGC is looking to protect these areas and will help maintain their many ecological, cultural, and social values while supporting indigenous leadership in conservation.."MSGC is looking to engage with other indigenous communities, land users, and other stakeholders in the region to understand the shared interests and opportunities for protecting these special places," the letter reads..A survey is then attached to the document.."The intent of this survey questionnaire is to solicit input from all interested parties as to how an IPCA within these two study areas may affect them. We hope you can provide your comments back by November 30. Please note that all responses are confidential and will be aggregated for the presentation of information," the letter said..Currently there are two study areas being looked at, North Buck Lake/Amisk Lake and Wolf Lake in the Lakeland. This also includes Lakeland Provincial Parks (PR) and Provincial Recreational Area (PRA), Wolf Lake, and Touchwood Lake with a total land base equal to 1,170 sq.- km over 11 townships..A group on Facebook named Alberta Proud is taking the MD's stand and is against what they claim is an annexation of land to keep Alberta from developing or using the oil resources.."If you live, work or play in the Athabasca/Cold Lake region, you should know the Trudeau government is planning to make major changes to public lands. As they seek to give control of these lands to a Metis Settlement, this means phasing out all recreation, logging, oil and gas activity over the next 20 years," Alberta Proud stated.."Folks are telling us this isn't even the will of the Metis community members. What gives? Albertans need to decide what happens to OUR lands, not pencil pushers in Ottawa. We need #MoreAlbertaLessOttawa.".Reeve Barry Kalinski from the Municipal District of Bonnyville told the Western Standard the federal government is trying to take Crown land and give it back to the indigenous. Kalinski said he believes this is about the oil and gas under the ground which the federal government seeks to control.."We're gonna lose all that land for our tax base," Kalinski said.."If this occurs, we lose those taxes right off the bat and then they (feds) have full control of that area.".Kalinski couldn't provide the exact amount of taxes the district will lose, but said it is "significant.".Kalinski is wondering why the Metis in the area weren't contacted by the federal government on the decision to annex land from the Lakeland.."My main Metis contact from this area, he didn't even know about it. I think it's the Trudeau government making this decision 'cause the MSGC is funded by the feds," Kalinski said..Kalinski also claimed the feds are using taxpayers' money to fund the studies to make the area protected.."Our tax federal tax dollars are paying. They're giving money to them too. So I really think it's more of an issue with oil and gas, to shut down the oil and gas area and then start people fighting against each other again," Kalinski said.."It's gonna cause a major fight. Like if this goes through, it's not gonna be a pretty situation.".Kalinski also claimed when a meeting was held in Lac La Biche to discuss the letter and the survey with the people, they didn't know it was happening.."When the MSGC did the presentation, the lady was telling the people there that everybody knew about it, like the provincial government, provincial ministers knew about it," Kalinski said.."I had a provincial MLA sat right beside me. And I sat in his office while he phoned ministers and when they are answering on his speakerphone, nobody knew about this. So why are they telling the people here that? It's just the federal government trying to cause grief between the Metis people and lakelanders.".The MSGC gave a presentation to the MD about the proposed idea on September 28. Darrell Toma with Toma Consulting and Carrie Selin with Solstice Environmental Management were in attendance virtually to present the MD with information regarding an engagement project for the new IPCA in northeast Alberta..During the meeting, it was stated the IPCA engagement process met with four eastern settlements, claiming more than 50 members attended engagement sessions. The MD was told the designed IPCA engagement online survey for stakeholders received 65 responses to date (mostly settlement members)..Considerations for the MSGC to make an IPCA in the Lakeland include:.Oil industry activity and over time that will change with marketsLand uses vary from the market (eg. Oil lease) to non-market uses (eg. Wildlife) caribou population enhancementClimate policy, water, and habitat retention and improvementThe change process considers both immediate lands to include:Caribou and species at risk- in regionWater, Wetlands, and habitat restorationNew Guardian and monitoring program- indigenous-ledLake recreation and cottage users- can continueRural economic opportunities – land-basedRetain and enhance indigenous cultural and historic settlementsNew tourism opportunities
