Pearl Lorentzen
Local Journalism Initiative Reporter
Peerless Lake First Nation has received some of its reserve land after a 15-year wait and is working on expanding its lands, consultation, and development corporation.
On May 12, PTFN held a grand opening for the new Lands and Economic Development office in Peerless Lake.
“When we put our minds together, this is what we can accomplish,” said Councillor Corrine Alook. “This is what we’re striving for. It’s coming to life the vision that we’ve had.”
“This building is not just a building,” said Vernon Alook, PTFN executive director. “It’s a milestone.”
Council and administration have been working two years to get the new office, he added.
Council lobbied industry for money toward the building, said Chief Gilbert Okemow.
“It benefits you as members of the community and the whole nation,” he told the crowd.
The building will hold PTFN’s consultation and lands departments, the new animal control officer, PTFN Development Corp, and people working in economic development.
“All in one building,” said Councillor Julie Noskiye. “It will help us to keep a better system of how things are going on our land.”
The building is a large office trailer, which replaces and much older and smaller one on the same lot.
Vernon Alook called it “a very big upgrade.”
The old lands office had so many mice that staff had to wipe the droppings off their desk each day, he added. They solved the problem with a pet weasel.
Tyler Letendre is the director of operations for PTFN Development Corporation.
When he started, he said, the company had two staff and a $200,000 loan from the band. This was paid off in six months. A few months later the company bought its first dozer. In the last two years, the company has returned $480,000 to the nation.
Chief and council are very supportive, added Letendre. “They don’t micromanage my position. It’s proven to be very successful.”
PTFN is in northern Alberta in the area known as ‘the back lakes’ north of Lesser Slave Lake.
The nation includes the communities of Peerless Lake and Trout Lake, which are in transition from being M.D. of Opportunity hamlets to PTFN reserves.
