If Chief Arthur Noskey is wondering why band members aren’t jumping up to start businesses in their Loon River community, he need look no further than the pump jacks that break up the landscape on reserve lands and the surrounding region two hours north of Slave Lake. In fact, as many as half the band members have jobs with the resource companies that are pumping oil from the bowels of the land that’s included in the relatively young land claim, he admits.
Therefore, he shouldn’t wonder why none are starting businesses in the tiny community. Many have discovered there’s good money to be had in the oil patch, so who needs to risk trying to start a business?
“We’ve always encouraged entrepreneurs,” he says, “so I don’t know” why no one has asked to develop any commercial ventures. One person did take over the confectionery that sits on the community’s main drag.
“When it was Crown-operated it lost money every year,” muses Band Manager Brian Pitcairn. “But since she took over, she’s made a profit every year.”
And there is one more potential business waiting in the wings, adds Chief Noskey.

“I know a couple of our members are looking at building a truck stop at the corner of Hwys. 686 and 88,” he says. That’s on reserve land, but because Loon River has an agreement with a resource company that gives the company rights to look for oil and gas, the would-be entrepreneurs have to ask the federal Indian Affairs department’s blessing to have part of the land rezoned to commercial. However, before that, they’ll have to get permission from the resource company.
“We’ll have to withdraw that parcel from the exploration agreement.”
The same agreement has resulted in jobs for many Loon River band members, while others are taking the training needed to ensure they’ll always have work “as long as the sun shines and the rivers flow,” as some elders put it.
“Some have trained on the job” as operators or roustabouts, he says, “and some have taken PITS (Petroleum Industry Training Service).” Others have gone to Nisku (Alberta, south of Edmonton)” for oilfield training. That’s good news that the companies involved have been so willing to work with the First Nations groups, he says. However, there must be assurances that the process will continue.

“This is happening in our back yard and what we’re thinking is that there (needs to be) some recognition that we’re the back yard of all these oil fields.
“Hopefully we can generate some work, and some benefits whether that be education, whatever,” says the chief.
Begun several years ago, Loon River’s land claim is nearing completion, and Chief Noskey hopes to have the remaining 7,000 acres in their 57,000–acre claim in place by early next year. To date they’ve been fortunate in creating an acceptable landmass, and often it’s been as much good luck as good management, says Pitcairn. At one point, the province owed it some land, he said, so decided to give Loon River its own lake. He believes Loon River is the only First Nation in the province that owns a lake and the subsurface mineral rights.
Administrators “thought it’d be good for shooting ducks,” he says with a laugh, but soon discovered this lake – Swampy Lake – is different. In fact, when the resource company was drilling for the proverbial ‘black gold’, engineers discovered the lake was “sitting on a huge, unexpected pocket of gas.” And unlike the post-dinner gastritis, this bubble showed some definite promise, he adds.
“The engineer figured it is the equivalent of a well that pumps 150 barrels (of crude oil) a day.” And it doesn’t take a rocket scientist or a math genius to know that since oil edged ever closer to the $60-a-barrel US, Loon River could be one very rich first nation.
That aside, however, Noskey has his sights set on an agreement that will ensure that First Nations groups benefit as resource companies extract resources from their regions.
He’s been working on his own consultation process draft since he was elected in March of last year. And so far, it’s won a nod from resource companies that he’s worked with.
Treaty 8 chiefs were surprised when the provincial cabinet endorsed its own consultation document last month, and Chief Noskey added, “We hope that this can be added to the government’s consultation policy.

“What we’re figuring is that we’re in the back yard of all these oil finds, so hopefully we can generate some work and some other benefits, whether that be education, training or what ever,” he says.
Calgary-based resource companies that he’s met with in recent months agree. And the resource companies in that area south of Red Earth Creek have a good working relationship with Loon River, too.
In fact, he adds, Alberta’s cabinet recently adopted a consultation policy framework and it looks much like the process that Loon River is already using with resource companies that are looking to probe the depths in that region.

The new policy document “makes it crystal clear the requirement that industry consult with First Nations for industrial resource development, and that the consultation be meaningful, up front and that the community be involved in the planning process, from A to Z,” says Pitcairn.
“We think that’s good because it wasn’t in writing before,” the manager continues, “although most oil companies were doing it as good corporate citizens.” It’s a policy that many companies in the north have followed as they develop natural resources, and the Loon River First Nation regards it as the “father, the blanket policy of the (consultation) agreement," he adds.

“The policy says that (First Nations’ inclusion) has to be there, and that’s aside from anything that the courts have said.”
Chief Noskey was named as the chair of the Treaty 8 chiefs that are working with the province’s Aboriginal and Northern Affairs department and several others as the consultation process unfolds. He has been working on a consultation process of his own since he was elected in March of last year. His ideas include using what the chief calls ‘best practices’.
“The province has consulted with industry and communities and is getting feedback from various groups – like the First Nations. Some have had great successes dealing with industry, which is good.” It’s those kinds of ‘best practices’ that Chief Noskey included in his draft. And of course, treaty rights must be maintained.
“Where Treaty 8 is coming from is that we’d like to have some influence on that policy (to ensure it includes) the traditions of our people,” says the chief.
“We have treaty rights to hunt, fish and gather. That’s all about making a living, about livelihood. There’s lots of work happening, but it has to go beyond that. I believe we have a work force in First Nations people and (can do) the work that is all around us.
“We have the numbers and we hope we can address that (employment assurance) through the consultation process.”
The First Nations groups suggest they should be consulted on proposed development on the traditional lands surrounding the respective reserve lands too.

“We’re talking about being involved in (consultations) on traditional lands which include reserve lands, “ says Pitcairn. Asked who will define the ‘traditional’ lands, he said Treaty 8 chiefs have undertaken an “historical research project to do that just now.”
That includes finding out “from the elders where trapping took place. It’s a lot of work and includes having Cree translated into modern English.
“We hope to have that done by the fall, and the province has agreed to help pay for that. It’s based on the Supreme Court decision.
“Some in the non-aboriginal community don’t agree, but it’s just (to ensure) that we didn’t get zero like we did in the past.” There’s plenty of work through the resource development process, he adds, “and when you look at the total picture, we’re a pretty small player.” Loon River Contracting, a band-owned company, has been building roads and developing well sites for several years.
As the process unfolds, Chief Noskey has his fingers crossed for what he hopes will be a peaceful resolution that benefits all.
“Hopefully we can come to a happy medium where we can deal with industry and the province, especially when we’re talking about our back yard. Everything (resource development) — oil, gas, diamonds — impacts us.

“We’ve voiced our concerns and most of the time we’ve had to go to extremes to make ourselves heard. Hopefully this consultation (document) will eliminate those extremes.
“Some oil companies have good relations with First Nations, and if one can do it — if it works once — there’s no reason why it shouldn’t work again.”

Province prepares

Lesser Slave Lake MLA and Minister of Aboriginal Affairs and Northern Development Pearl Calahasen agrees, adding that she’s optimistic as the consultation process unfolds.
“When we were developing this, we had to make sure we had (input) from First Nations people. We’ve been told that whenever we have (resource development on) reserves, First Nations have to be involved, that we have to consult and make sure industry works with them too.
“More than having policies, we have to set out guidelines — principles, roles and responsibilities — for each group, like SRD (Sustainable Resource Development) energy, environment and community development (departments) with Aboriginal Affairs leading the process. We have to make sure we’re all connected.


“First Nations are already at the table, and we need to know what industry needs as they develop, so harmonious development can occur. We have to make sure the traditional land base is identified, and that First Nations groups have the capacity to share in the economics, that they’re economic players” when natural resource development happens.
She says department officials are also including “dispute resolution mechanisms in the new guidelines, to maximize the possibilities and ensure there are economic benefits for all Albertans.”

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