Metis groups file historic inter-provincial land claim through oil sands country

Traditional Metis territories in Northern Saskatchewan and Alberta filed a claim covering roughly 122,000 square kilometres, most of which is in oilsands territory, at Court of Queen’s Bench in Saskatoon on Wednesday.

The interprovincial land claim is the first of its kind, and the Metis are looking to reclaim the land that wasn’t given to them by the government in the late 1800s.

At that time, Aboriginal title and rights of the Metis people were recognized. Those rights brought the need to deal with Canada’s colonization scheme, creating a program to allocate land called “scrip.”

The scrip system entitled 160 to 240 acres of land, or monetary compensation, to each Metis individual.

But the Metis said abuse, mismanagement and outright fraudulent actions prevented them from benefiting from the allocations.

Jim Durocher, president of the A la Baie Metis Local 21 of Ile a la Crosse, explained what this would mean for his community.

“Finally getting what we’ve been after all these years, which is self-government … as well as getting benefits from the resources that are taken away from us,” he said.

Communities such as Fort McMurray, Lac la Biche, Ile a la Crosse, La Loche, and Fort Chipewyan are within the land claim area.

Ron Quintal, president of the Fort McKay Metis Community Association, wouldn’t close the door on other Metis groups joining the land claim.

“We need to make it very clear to other Metis communities out there, this is a call to you,” he said. “We make this call so that we can write the wrongs collectively in a way that allows the community to have the voice at the table that is required.”

Quintal said they’re committed to the success of those who use the land resources.

“This is not an effort to displace anyone, in fact, we support responsible business including resource extraction,” he said. “However, the time has come to demand that the wrongs of the past be righted in a meaningful way.”

A large focus with the land claim is to maximize the ability to practise the Metis traditional ways, Quintal said.