Recreation trail in northern Alberta on hold as First Nation raises concerns | CBC News
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Plans for bulldozers to carve a new recreation trail through northwestern Alberta are on hold.
Mackenzie County wants to turn two defunct industrial winter roads into a recreation trail in the areas around Bistcho Lake and Thurston Lake. But the Dene Tha’ First Nation says the provincial government did not properly consult its people before transferring ownership to Mackenzie County.
Riley Gough, a spokesperson for Forestry and Parks Minister Todd Loewen, said the department followed its guidelines on consultation, and that “these are existing roads with a change in ownership only not requiring consultation.”
In a statement issued Thursday, Mackenzie County Reeve Josh Knelsen said his municipality had engaged in consultation with the Dene Tha’ First Nation and other Indigenous communities between 2023 to 2025.
CBC News viewed a copy of a court document, which Mackenzie County said was a consent order the municipality agreed to, that had been signed by a judge on March 30 but was not yet stamped for approval. It orders the county not to take part in any bulldozing.
Chief Wilfred Hooka-Nooza spoke to CBC News about his concerns with the project.
“This is a beautiful place. The fear is that properties will be purchased around the lake and then we will end up outside the door, meaning that we’ll be pushed away,” he said.
“That is our traditional territory and we would like to keep it clean and safe for the future.”
The Dene Tha’ First Nation hopes the court will eventually reverse the transfer and stop any future transfers that do not involve their consultation.
Hooka-Nooza said the area is considered culturally and spiritually important among members of his First Nation. The land is used for hunting, fishing and harvesting, and some members and their ancestors were born in the area. He said it is also believed there are artifacts in the area dating from before contact with settlers, as well as gravesites.
“It’s not only for today that we are trying to assert our way of life. It’s for our young future generation to carry on the legacy of our ancestors.”
Gough said Alberta’s government cannot comment further on the First Nation’s claims or the ongoing legal dispute while the matter is before the courts.