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The Alberta authorities says it is permitted transferring land that holds a historic cemetery to the Enoch Cree Nation.
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The small parcel of land, which flanks Anthony Henday Drive in west Edmonton, was a part of Enoch Cree Nation reserve land till a compelled give up in 1908.
In 2004, the Enoch Cree Nation reached a $54-million settlement with the federal authorities over the 1908 give up.
In a Monday information launch, Indigenous Relations Minister Rick Wilson stated the land ought to have been reserved land.
“We now have began the method to return this sacred land to the individuals who have been caring for it for generations. Most of us go it repeatedly with out taking discover, however for the individuals of Enoch Cree Nation, it’s a non secular place the place their ancestors might lay,” stated Wilson.
The discharge famous that in 2021, Enoch Cree Nation Chief Billy Morin pitched the concept to the Metropolis of Edmonton and the Alberta authorities of transferring the land as an act of reconciliation.
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“I thank Minister Wilson and the federal government as they’ve actually honored our ancestors in an unprecedented act of reconciliation whereas on the similar time being open to the way forward for First Nations by the city reserve idea,” stated Morin within the launch.
Prasad Panda, Infrastructure Minister and performing transportation minister, stated the provincial authorities “will proceed to handle the transportation utility hall across the cemetery in the most effective curiosity of Albertans,” which incorporates present and future pipeline improvement.
The discharge stated the total switch of the land will take a couple of months to finish, including there are upwards of 400,000 acres of surrendered reserve lands throughout the province, however a few of these surrenders had been fraudulent.
lijohnson@postmedia.com