Edmonton's first urban reserve in the works following agreement with Kehewin Cree Nation

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Edmonton could soon be home to its first urban First Nations reserve following an agreement with Kehwein Cree Nation.

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Mayor Don Iveson and Kehwein Chief Okimaw Vernon Watchmaker signed a memorandum of cooperation and dialogue Wednesday morning at city hall which now allows both parties to work together and explore the development of an urban reserve.

These reserves, of which there are currently none in Edmonton, would give First Nations communities the opportunity to obtain land within city limits and convert it to reserve status in order to offer resources and services to their citizens.

With roughly 80,000 Indigenous people living in Edmonton, Watchmaker said urban reserves will strengthen the sense of community and allow for economic opportunity for First Nations communities within the city.

“We want to make sure they have the same opportunity that every other Edmontonian has. We believe this city has a lot to offer and we want to be a part of that,” Watchmaker told reporters after the signing ceremony.

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Watchmaker said a location hasn’t been determined yet and that is one of the first next steps in determining how the reserve will function.

Establishing an urban reserve is under the authority of the federal government, but Iveson said the city will play a role in helping to coordinate the process and an agreement will need to be in place to provide municipal services such as water, fire protection and waste collection.

“The chance to do economic reconciliation while supporting prosperity for our city and region is kind of a lovely two-for-one,” Iveson said. “We see it coming from a number of First Nations who expressed interest in doing this both as economic development, and we welcome the investment in jobs, and also potentially preserving some culturally-significant historic sites, such as the Enoch Cree Nation burial ground in west Edmonton.”

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There are more than 120 urban reserves across Canada, the first established in 1988 by Muskeg Lake Cree Nation in Saskatoon.

Also on Wednesday, the city signed a renewed memorandum with the Confederation of Treaty Six First Nations to commit to working collaboratively and strengthening the government-to-government relationships.

Following the ceremony, Iveson announced the city and the Edmonton Police Service will be recognizing Canada’s National Day for Truth and Reconciliation on Sept. 30 as a paid statutory holiday for employees. The city will also mark the day with community events and workplace activities. Some city services will be reduced as a result of the holiday.

The Alberta government has decided not to make Sept. 30 a statutory holiday for provincially-regulated industries and has left the decision up to individual employers.

duscook@postmedia.com

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