Alexander.Pdf
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
July 12, 2002 Historic Celebration for Alexander First Nation in Alberta Official signing of the settlement agreement for the 1905 Surrender Claim Nearly $63 Million in Compensation This agreement is supported by community members as illustrated below Ratification vote by community members was held April 5, 2002. 2 polls, one off and one on reserve; Eligible voters-884 Votes cast-737 (83% of eligible voters) 655-yes (88.8% of votes cast) 79-No (10.7% of votes cast) For more information on land claims please visit Turtle Island Native Network http://www.turtleisland.org Alex Newsletter 3/8/02 10:48 AM Page 1 19051905 SurrenderSurrender ClaimClaim NewsNews A Publication of the Alexander First Nation MARCH 2002 Message from Chief and Council February 28, 2002 alternative courses of action. We simply do not know whether a court battle would provide a greater To All Members of the Alexander First Nation recovery. We do know that such a battle would be lengthy and bitter and the outcome cannot be Dear Members: guaranteed. Subject: Settlement of 1905 Surrender Land Claim Contents The formal process of obtaining the consent of Alexander Members has begun. A Settlement 1 Message from Chief and Council As many of you already know, the Alexander First Agreement has been drafted and initialed by our Negotiator, Rene Paul and Canada's Negotiators, Troy 2 Message from the Elders’ Nation has been in negotiations for many years to Senate settle the land claim relating to the loss of 9,518 acres Chalifoux and Frank Osendarp. All members of Alexander First Nation of at least 18 years old will be 2 Message from the Youth of land from the Alexander Reserve No.134 in 1905. Committee given the opportunity to vote on the proposed On the advice of our Negotiator and legal counsel, we, 3 History of the Claim Settlement Agreement, including giving their consent your Chief and Council are proud to recommend the to the surrender of the Claim Lands. 3 The Negotiators proposed settlement agreement for this long- 3 Highlights of Proposed outstanding claim. The settlement represents the It is important to stress that this settlement will not Agreement product of a great deal of hard work by many people. become final until you, the members of Alexander, 4 Studies on Loss of Use Our Elders, previous leadership, and many staff indicate that you agree with the settlement package in 4 Proposed Trust Agreement members provided invaluable advice, guidance and a Ratification Vote to be held on April 5, 2002. The and Per Capita Distribution wisdom in an effort that will now allow Alexander to information you have received with this letter also 5-7 Questions and Answers finally put this grievance behind us. includes the particulars of the Ratification Vote. Please 7 Information on Voting read it carefully and if you have any questions do not This proposed Settlement Agreement brings much- 8 The Question on the Ballot hesitate to contact our office or the Indian Affairs needed financial resources for the benefit of our representatives listed therein. 8 Contacts for Further members and Alexander as a whole. A total Information compensation package of $62,965,640.07 provides The Chief and Council and the Negotiator have been Alexander with a firmer foundation on which to build working with some of our members, some staff a secure and prosperous future for our children, members, our lawyers, accountants and investment grandchildren, great-grandchildren and for those advisers to design a Trust Agreement to create the children not yet born. You will no doubt agree. As was Alexander 1905 Surrender Claim Trust. It will create a explained to you, some of the money has been framework to guarantee the input of all of you who are targeted for specific items that are considered members on decisions to invest and spend the beneficial to the short and long-term financial compensation for the benefit of all of members of standing of Alexander and which will enable us to Alexander. provide expanded program and service delivery to you. We will be holding information meetings so that you As part of the proposed settlement of the 1905 can hear from the Chief and Council, the Negotiator Surrender Claim, we will and our legal counsel on all aspects of the settlement have to surrender (or re- proposal, as well as our accounting and investment surrender) the Claim advisers. The Electoral Officer who will supervise the Lands. This is only a Ratification Vote and Referendum will also be there to technical requirement of explain the voting procedures. You will also be able to Indian and Northern get legal advice from our lawyers privately, either in Affairs Canada and does person or by collect telephone call. The Council and not prevent us from the Negotiator will also be available for members to reacquiring that land as discuss the proposed settlement agreement and why we are recommending it. Alexander First Nation part of our Reserve. In the Alexander 1998 Treaty Land Government: (Left to Right Front Row) Councillor Martin Entitlement Settlement Agreement, we obtained the This proposed Settlement Agreement that has been Arcand, Chief Victoria Arcand, legal right to have that land returned to Alexander presented to you represents a major victory by the Councillor Sylvia Arcand, and Reserve No.134 once we have purchased it. The Alexander First Nation. We are pleased and proud to Councillor Don Kootenay; (Left to Right Back Row) Proposed Settlement Agreement preserves our rights to recommend it for your acceptance. re-establish our original Reserve at the same time as it Councillor Armand Arcand, Respectfully submitted by the Chief and Council of the Councillor Howard Augbelle, compensates us for the loss of use of that land for and Councillor Herb Arcand, Alexander First Nation: are encouraging the electorate nearly 100 years. The 1905 Surrender Claim does not of the First Nation to ensure in any way take away these rights. There is a clause in they vote on April 5, 2002. the proposed Settlement Agreement that makes it clear that any parts of the Claim Lands that are purchased on the open market through the Treaty Land Entitlement Settlement Agreement will be returned to the Alexander Reserve. The Proposed Settlement Agreement also makes it clear that bed and shores of Deadman's Lake will be returned to Alexander. The Chief and Council have decided that this settlement provides a compensation package that we can recommend, taking into account all of the Message from the Elders' Senate February 28, 2002 Tansi: Within the last month, you all have witnessed a great deal of activity centered around the Land Surrender Claim. And rightly so, because it is very exciting. Finally, we are witnessing a great moment that we didn't think was possible. As Elders, we do not believe in standing in the way of something that is viewed as being positive for our reserve. This Land Surrender Claim is certainly something that most of our community believes as being positive. It will provide us with a Elders of the Alexander First Nation: (Left to Right) Member Ron Arcand, Elder Narcisse Paul, certain degree of comfort to see some light in the Elder Arsene Arcand, Elder Mose Newborn, and Ed Arcand, Director of Economic Development discuss details of the Proposed Settlement Agreement. distance. We are not sure if you understand this, but we wish to bring to your attention what happens if we don't vote Yes in the upcoming vote for the Land Surrender Claim. We understand that if the vote is No on April 5, 2002, that will certainly mean continuing struggles for all of us!!! We are sure that you are aware that we are struggling right now because there is no money for building additional houses, fixing roads, or creating more employment. We are in a dilemma. We understand that if the vote turns out to be No on April 5, 2002, then Indian and Northern Affairs Canada could take this deal off the table and may not be willing to bring it back for a long, long time. We stand to lose a lot if this happens. That is why we have taken this opportunity to write down our thoughts. We encourage you all to consider our situation very carefully. As Elders, we will not benefit as greatly as the young generation. It is they, the young people of Alexander First Nation who will benefit. We owe it to them to try to make their lives better. We owe it to them to feel confident about planning for their future. We trust you will find it in your hearts to pray for guidance and make a decision that is right for you. Take time to think about this. Make the right choice for you, your children, your grandchildren, your great grandchildren and for the children not yet born. May the Great Spirit give us the strength we need during this difficult time to make the right choices for Alexander First Nation. May we live in harmony and peace no matter what the future holds in store for us. We ask for blessings of kindness and respect for each and every one of our band members today and for the future. May the Great Spirit guide you well, Elders' Senate Message from the Youth Committee February 28, 2002 To All Members of the Alexander First Nation: On behalf of the Alexander Youth Committee, I would like to extend warm wishes and wish everyone the best in the future. The Land Surrender Claim that Alexander is currently involved in is proving to be a positive financial vehicle for all members.