Indigenous and Northern Affairs committee  Thank you, Chairman. First of all, I would like to thank the committee for providing time for the Stoney Nakoda Nations to make the presentation and make issues known. This month is a very significant month in first nation history. This was the month, 40 years ago, that we fir

Indigenous and Northern Affairs committee  We are located 45 miles west of the city of Calgary, in the foothills, and the main reserve that we are located in is Morley, Alberta. We also have two other reserves, the Bighorn Indian Reserve in the area of Rocky Mountain House, as well as the Eden Valley Indian Reserve in the

Indigenous and Northern Affairs committee  Mr. Chairman, thank you for the questions. Some of the first wells were discovered in that area in 1928, preceding any type of regulator or institution. So we were not involved yet, even though there were activities happening on our lands. If you go today to the IOGC, you will s

Indigenous and Northern Affairs committee  I can answer that in a general way, Mr. Chairman. Our communities were initially approached when the activity began in Morley, and that would have been in the late sixties, or 1968-69. At that time, they had created a group called Indian Minerals West, which eventually became In

Indigenous and Northern Affairs committee  At this time I'd like to ask legal counsel to answer that in part, but I'm thinking and hoping that what we're doing is helping to clarify part of the process and part of the relationship. That's what we would like to do through these amendments. As we were saying, we don't wan

Indigenous and Northern Affairs committee  Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Also, when we initially embarked on our TOPGAS litigation, we had gone to the department. We went to IOGC and asked them to pursue it. At that time, we heard back that the Stoneys themselves have to pursue it. There was an unclear process at that point.

Indigenous and Northern Affairs committee  Thank you, Mr. Chair. I think it's difficult for the province to identify and know the interests of first nations. They have their own interests at heart. They're not able to understand this fiduciary relationship, and we're running into problems with that right now in the oil a

Indigenous and Northern Affairs committee  I'll ask Mr. Rae to comment on that.

Indigenous and Northern Affairs committee  We have many meetings with IOGC. It would depend. We have a Stoney oil and gas committee. There are many different groups that interact with different levels of government.

Indigenous and Northern Affairs committee  Chief Clifford is a board member there, so he would have a better idea on that. And maybe Doug is aware of some of the board meeting schedules.

Indigenous and Northern Affairs committee  Sorry to interrupt. I don't think you're the chairman, either.

Indigenous and Northern Affairs committee  Former Chief Wesley was a co-chair about four or five years ago, I believe.

Indigenous and Northern Affairs committee  The involvement with the Indian Resource Council and IOGC in this process has been one of review. Usually we receive documentation, draft notices or draft legislation, and then we're asked to review that, but that's usually at a later date. You make it sound like we're involved i

Indigenous and Northern Affairs committee  I may have a problem with that statement, because there are other first nations that can say that. Siksika First Nation is a leader. White Bear First Nation is a leader. There are others, including Horse Lake. The FNOGMMA bands, essentially, are the leading bands right now.

Indigenous and Northern Affairs committee  That would have been one of our other committees. We have a consultation team. They are not represented here today. That team has been mandated by the chief and council of the three first nations to deal with preliminary legislation, policies and whatnot, coming down from the pro