The policy helps Indigenous people in the RMWB take ownership of land historically owed to them by the municipality.
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A group of Indigenous people in the Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalo (RMWB) are now able to take ownership of land historically owed to them by the municipality.
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The policy passed unanimously by the RMWB’s council at their Tuesday meeting. Councillors were told 11 Indigenous families are living on municipal land without legal ownership of their homes or properties. Some land disputes pre-date the 1995 amalgamation of Fort McMurray and surrounding rural hamlets into the RMWB.
Some impacted families are victims of Indian Act policies that stripped them of their status. The families were no longer allowed to live on First Nation reserves once they became non-status. Métis people also settled outside the reserve boundaries on Crown land now known as the RMWB’s rural hamlets.
Some of the impacted families were aware of their status. Brynn Armstrong, the RMWB’s manager of the land administration department, said this may have been caused by language barriers, a lack of communication, the amalgamation process itself, tax forfeitures and past leasing processes.
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Others learned they did not actually own their land when they applied to the RMWB for connection to the rural water and sewage system.
“Unfortunately, some of these families were not made whole and were not transferred the land as promised,” said Armstrong.
Eligible people must be Indigenous residents of the RMWB currently living on the land. They must prove historical ties to the land or the structure. They cannot be in arrears on municipal taxes or utility accounts. The land itself must be currently owned by the RMWB and within its jurisdiction.
Council was also reminded the issue was championed by the late councillor Jane Stroud and resolving the matter is in line with the Truth and Reconciliation Commission’s Calls to Actions.
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“This matter is not easily understood, has been long overlooked and has unfortunately played a role in Conklin’s homelessness and housing crisis today,” wrote Scott Duguid, CEO of the Conklin Resource Development Advisory Committee (CRDAC), in a letter to council urging them to support the motion.
Councillor Funky Banjoko was concerned about eligible residents who are struggling financially. She was told the RMWB has processes to help people who are in arrears on their municipal taxes or utilities.
“We are aware that there are a few that may have the challenges that you explained. We do have to be mindful that this is taxpayers’ dollars as well and this is municipally-owned land,” said Amanda Owens, the RMWB’s senior manager of planning and development.
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“The policy lays out a number of criteria in the most equitable way possible.”
Councillor Shafiq Dogar caused some confusion among speakers when he asked if the properties were on the east or west side of MacKenzie Boulevard. He was told the impacted properties were scattered throughout the RMWB.
It was later found out Dogar mixed up the issue with a motion on allowing a liquor store to open on MacKenzie Boulevard. That motion passed unanimously later that evening.
Councillor Kendrick Cardinal said he supported the land transfer bylaw and said it was long overdue for the RMWB and council.
“It’s been a long time coming for a lot of the historical trauma that’s been happening to the Indigenous people throughout Canada and, specifically, within our region,” he said.
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vmcdermott@postmedia.com
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