Phase II: [Completed ]

Métis Consultations

• Phase One of the Oil Sands Consultations was a high level visioning exercise, and as per the Multistakeholder Committee’s (MSC) Terms of Reference, Aboriginal consultation used a “good government” model as opposed to addressing possible infringement to treaty and constitutional rights.

• The second phase of the consultation process sought to identify strategies and action plans for implementing the vision and principles.

• Alberta undertook a separate and parallel consultation process for Métis communities

• The Aboriginal Consultation Interdepartmental Committee, chaired by the Department of Energy with representatives from Alberta Environment, International, Intergovernmental and Aboriginal Relations, Sustainable Resource Development and Justice, was formed to conduct the Aboriginal consultation during the second phase.

• The Métis representative on the MSC worked with the Government of Alberta to develop an appropriate Métis consultation process

• Five Consultation sessions hosted by the Government of Alberta were held with First Nations during March, April and May. Seventy-three Métis participants attended including representatives from the Métis Nation of Alberta (MNA), five MNA Regional Councils, five MNA Métis Locals, the Métis Settlements General Council, all eight individual Métis Settlements as well as the North West Territories Métis Nation.

• Any input received during the sessions regarding non-aboriginal rights based issues such as employment, training, economic development and infrastructure have been passed on to the Multi-stakeholder Committee for incorporation into their report.

• Prior to the conclusion of the consultation process, a Métis Validation Session was held in Edmonton to ensure that the recommendations compiled by the Government of Alberta reflected what was presented during the consultation sessions. Forty-three Métis participants attended the session representing the MNA, five MNA Regional Councils, three Métis Locals, the Métis Settlements General Council, seven individual Métis Settlements as well as the Northwest Territories Métis Nation. Métis were also given an additional opportunity to comment on a subsequent draft of the recommendations prior to their inclusion in the Aboriginal Consultation Final Report.

• The Aboriginal Consultation Final Report contains an overview of the separate consultation processes for both First Nations and Métis as well as the recommendations that the two groups would like government to consider when planning for future oil sands development in the province.

• The Aboriginal Consultation Final Report was submitted to the Ministers of Energy, Environment and Sustainable Resource Development along with the Multistakeholder Committee Final Report on June 30, 2007.

• As the recommendations within both reports cover a wide variety of topics that fall under the mandate of a number of government departments, the government will fully review both reports before developing a response.

• For further information regarding the Métis consultation process, or to request a hard copy of the Aboriginal Consultation Final Report, please contact Janelle Wyman, Manager, Aboriginal Relations or Cole Pederson, Director, Aboriginal Consultation with the Department of Energy.

• Janelle Wyman – Phone: (780) 422-7009,
  Email: janelle.wyman@gov.ab.ca
• Cole Pederson – Phone: (780) 644-8173,
  Email: cole.pederson@gov.ab.ca