Aboriginal Relations
The Department of Energy’s Aboriginal Relations Branch focuses on how aboriginal communities are impacted by the department’s business.
The branch is made up of 10 staff members who oversee aboriginal legal, land claim and Crown lessee issues, promote good government and industry relationships with aboriginal communities, and encourage positive involvement of aboriginal people in the resource development economy.
We engage aboriginal communities in discussions about resource development and collaborate with other departments’ aboriginal relations staff to ensure aboriginal communities understand Alberta’s role in authorizing resource development activities.
The branch enthusiastically promotes the use of the department’s own Aboriginal Community Link website where participating aboriginal communities can access geographic information about mineral resource developments occurring near their communities. This information helps aboriginal communities to become aware of developments that may impact their traditional use activities and to more easily identify possible jobs and business opportunities that could come from resource developments.
We encourage aboriginal communities to express their concerns regarding resource development in a productive manner. Along with other Alberta government departments, we inform communities about government roles and responsibilities and seek their greater interest in resource decision-making.
The Department of Energy encourages aboriginal people and communities to participate in the resource development economy. Aboriginal people are a valuable, but largely untapped, source of workers for resource developments and many aboriginal communities are well positioned to develop productive business relationships with resource companies. Energy’s Aboriginal Relations Branch, in collaboration with other Alberta government departments such as Alberta Employment and Immigration and Alberta Aboriginal Relations, supports a number of Alberta’s aboriginal employment and business development programs.
All First Nations in Alberta are covered by one of three treaties, Treaty 6, 7 and 8, which were signed in 1876, 1877 and 1899 respectively. Although most First Nations received sufficient reserve lands and benefits at the time of treaty, some First Nations have made claims that there might be shortfalls in their original land entitlements. While Canada has the primary constitutional obligation to address these claims, Alberta has a related obligation to provide unoccupied land and mineral rights to help Canada rectify these situations. Alberta and Canada have been very successful in settling 12 “treaty land entitlement claims” to date. Alberta will continue to work with the federal government on any outstanding claims with a view to negotiating settlements that are fair and equitable to all parties, consistent with past settlements and that provide greater certainty for First Nations, governments and industry.
In this regard, the branch works with Alberta Aboriginal Relations and other Alberta government departments to identify suitable Crown mineral rights for treaty land entitlement settlements and acts as a liaison with Alberta mineral lessees who might be affected by land claim settlements.
Occasionally, aboriginal communities commence legal actions alleging that resource development activities are adversely impacting their constitutionally protected rights, such as their treaty right to hunt and fish. When legal proceedings occur, the Aboriginal Relations Branch works with Alberta Justice and Attorney General to ensure that the Department of Energy’s interests are properly considered.
