A huge partnership is on the way for Indigenous communities across Alberta: the Alberta Indigenous Opportunities Corporation (AIOC) is supporting 23 Indigenous communities to buy into seven Enbridge-owned pipelines. Premier Jason Kenney was very excited about what this means for the future of Indigenous communities and business.

"I have made hundreds of announcements, today is easily one of the most exciting and consequential. This is a historic day for Alberta, for Canada, for reconciliation, for Indigenous people, for our economic future. Today, this partnership that we are announcing between Enbridge and a group of 23 Indigenous communities with the support of Alberta government is a historic, game-changing deal that shows the way to the future of shared prosperity, of being partners in prosperity. Of moving from the talk of reconciliation to to the real progress of 'reconcili-action'." 

These Indigenous communities will now have an 11.5% equity stake in the ownership of these seven pipelines, which is worth $1.1 billion with a $250 million backstop from the government.

"This is the single largest Indigenous transaction in the natural resource sector in the history of North America, and I think it may well be in world history. I don't know of one that exceeds this. This is Alberta, this is Enbridge, this is these First Nations showing the way to the future," Kenney said.

Chief Greg Desjarlais from Frog Lake says the money gained from this partnership will be a tremendous help to all the First Nations involved.

"This investment, it creates opportunities. It's going to allow us to send our kids to school. It's going to allow us to send our people to treatment. It's going to allow us to deal with the mental crisis that we have in in our communities, the anxiety of the young people. It's going to allow us to improve the quality of life, it's going to allow us to build homes." 

Desjarlais added the Indigenous seat at the table is very important for the economic sovereignty of First Nations, and he wants to collaboratively work to continue to strengthen Indigenous communities.

"When we put put the collective values first, this is the outcome, something beautiful." 

As for Kenney, he is proud of the work accomplished, and says this is an important aspect of reconciliation.

"The dream of reconciliation. It is through practical, concrete measures like the deal being signed today that we can, I believe, show real hope to people for a very bright future." 

These are the 23 communities involved:

Métis Settlements

  • Buffalo Lake Métis Settlement
  • Kikino Métis Settlement
  • Elizabeth Métis Settlement
  • Fishing Lake Métis Settlement

Treaty 8 First Nations

  • Athabasca Chipewyan First Nation
  • Chipewyan Prairie First Nation
  • Fort McKay First Nation
  • Fort McMurray 468 First Nation
  • Mikisew Cree First Nation

Métis communities

  • Chard Métis Nation
  • Conklin Métis Local 193
  • Fort Chipewyan Métis Local 125
  • Fort McKay Métis Nation
  • McMurray Métis Local 1935
  • Willow Lake Métis Nation

Treaty 6 First Nations

  • Beaver Lake Cree Nation
  • Cold Lake First Nations
  • Frog Lake First Nation
  • Heart Lake First Nation
  • Kehewin Cree Nation
  • Onion Lake Cree Nation
  • Saddle Lake Cree Nation
  • Whitefish/Goodfish Lake First Nation

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