By DEB GUERETTE
RECORD-GAZETTE STAFF
The government of Alberta has been invited to join Lubicon Lake Indian Nation settlement negotiations.
After 11 months of talks between the First Nation and the federal government and with the crucial membership issue resolved, provincial participation would "move us to the next phase," chief federal negotiator Brad Morse told Peace River town council June 14.
The province must transfer back to the federal government land it needs to create a Lubicon reserve, Morse said during the information session with council before federal and Lubicon negotiating teams met in Little Buffalo Tuesday and Wednesday.
With discussions on community construction underway, the province should join negotiations at one of the next sessions in July, Morse said, adding that both sides are "waiting for the province to decide their view of land quantum."
The federal government is prepared to adhere to the 1988 Grimshaw Accord's 95 square mile reserve territory agreement, Morse said.
"The Grimshaw Accord was initialed as done by one of my predecessors along the way. The federal view is, it was an agreement between honorable men representing their respective governments and therefore we would respect that as being done. The challenge is for us to implement it," Morse said. While private discussions with provincial officials have been "quite positive," Morse noted "official discussion at the table can be different - we have to wait for their official position."
"The federal position is, there has been an agreement reached in the past on land quantum. If the province reiterates their commitment to that and to the financial viability (of proposals) in current dollar terms, then I think you will see us reach an agreement in short order," Morse said.
Lubicon Lake Indian Nation chief Bernard Ominayak says the band expects the province to live up to the Grimshaw agreement he and premier Don Getty worked out 11 years ago.
"The Grimshaw Accord was an agreement made by the provincial premier in power at the time. That agreement should hold regardless of the change in leadership, I don't see why one party shouldn't honor it," Ominayak told the Record-Gazette Wednesday.
"We'd be a lot further ahead fast if there is some seriousness on the part of the province. We hope they bring a positive attitude towards negotiations. If they don't and they come and are not serious in trying to (settle), it would be a number of steps back again," Ominayak said.
Progress continues to be made with the federal government, he said.
"We should give some credit to Brad. Things have moved a lot further than ever before, even though they are not finalized yet. There is a willingness to work through the problems we face," Ominayak said, adding, "the people here deserve credit for their patience and the hardships they've faced in trying to get some benefit in the long run. It has taken a terrible toll on our people and it is not fair."
The Lubicon wanted to cover a little more ground with the federal government before provincial officials pull up chairs around the negotiation table in the community's long house, but the band will welcome them in July, Ominayak said.
"Brad has been fairly aggressive about bringing the province to the table and we've given it consideration because of that," he said.
While all three negotiating parties will require "some flexibility to achieve an enduring settlement," Morse told town council public encouragement can influence governments.
"If Peace River regards achieving a settlement as important, both governments should know that. They may have heard it before, but maybe they haven't heard it lately. My bosses and the provincial government respond to public concern," Morse said.
Federal and Lubicon negotiating parties plan to meet again in Little Buffalo in early July. Provincial officials are expected to attend a second negotiating session in the community later that month.