“Stewards of Our Traditional Lands”

Kelly Lake, British Columbia

CEAA Joint Review Panel

Presentation January 2014

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KLMSS• Kelly Lake Métis Settlement Society

(KLMSS) is a not-for-profit organization registered under the BC Societies Act on April 26, 2002

• Purpose: advocate for the Aboriginal rights, health and equity, pursue economic and social benefits, for Kelly Lake Métis people

• KLMSS is a community-governed organization, and ratified its Constitution in 2007

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KLMSS (cont’d)

• KLMSS President (Lyle Letendre)• Board of Directors (Elders,

Community Members)• Management (Keith Henry)• Supporting consultants

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KLMSS (cont’d)

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Kelly Lake Métis - History

• Evidence of ore-confederation presence in the region

• Baptiste Bission Senior and Joseph Landry (Letendre) guided Alexander Mackenzie from Lac Ste. Anne northwest on his 1793 Voyage into Peace Canyon

• Napolean Thomas guided David Thompson on his 1811 journey through Athabasca Pass

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Kelly Lake Métis – History (cont’d)

• Founding members of the settlement at the early part of the 20th century: Narcisse Belcourt, St. Pierre Gauthier, and the families Calliou, Campbell, Gladu, Gray, Hamelin, Letendre and Supernat

• Kelly Lake was gateway to Kelly Lake Métis “trapping heartland” (Robinson, 1983)

• ...food and income security d/t the local natural abundance of clean water, wildlife, rich trapping grounds, and relative ease of access to supplies at Beaverlodge

• trapping heartland had been in use for generations

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Kelly Lake Métis - Culture

• Continue to practice traditional Métis “mixed,” or “bush” economy/culture, composed of harvesting pants, wildlife and medicines from the natural environment, wage labour and community-based businesses

• Deeply dependent on, connected to and stewards of their Traditional Territory, an area in which Kelly Lake Métis assert their Constitutionally-enshrined Aboriginal rights

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Kelly Lake Métis – Traditional Territory

“Generally, KLMSS Traditional Territory extends from the Continental Divide in British Columbia east to the Smoky River in the northern portion of the territory, and to Lac Ste. Anne in the southern, following common travel routes. North-south, it encompasses lands from the Peace River south to about the latitude of Hinton, Alberta...”

(KLMSS, 2012)

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Kelly Lake Métis – Traditional Territory

(Figure 1: KLMSS, 2012)

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Kelly Lake Métis The location of KLMSS Traditional

Territory, straddling the AB/BC border presents challenges for Kelly Lake Métis, and have lead to ongoing and severe inequity and fragmentation of the social fabric of the community: – Squabbles over administrative/municipal

responsibility/resourcing– Structural violence: active exclusion of Métis

in BC Regulatory environment– Inconsistent and inadequate consultation

and engagement

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Some Examples of Inequities

• Residents often have to leave the community to obtain gainful employment, in spite of tremendous resources and development within KLMSS Traditional Territory;

• The average income in 2005 was estimated to be between $20,000 and $25,000 per annum;

• The community suffers from a lack of access to Provincial and Federal funding that provides important facilities and services (including emergency services);

• There is a shortage of adequate housing in Kelly Lake – approximately 80% of residents have mould in their homes, and the majority of people have inadequate insulation;

• Potable water is a concern for the community; and

• Less than 70% of community members are estimated to have graduated high school.

(KLMS 2010)

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Effects of Development “KLMSS has documented the following knowledge

with regard to Project-specific and cumulative effects within KLMSS Traditional Territory: – Declines in the purity and abundance of surface water

due to civic and industrial contamination (Stantec, 2010; Stantec, 2011);

– Extensive, progressive and ongoing wildlife habitat and sensitive ecological feature (i.e. moose lick) destruction, disturbance by industry (Stantec, 2010; Stantec, 2011); and

– Ongoing threats and impacts to food and culture security through encroachment of non- Aboriginal harvesters, destruction of high-yield harvesting sites and cumulative environmental decline (i.e. moose licks and muskegs) (Stantec, 2010; Stantec 2011)” (KLMSS, 2012)

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Looking Forward Kelly Lake is a small, traditional Métis community

whose people rely largely on harvesting plants and wildlife from the natural environment for subsistence. Kelly Lake Métis continue to address the following:

– Recognition and affirmation of a Powley “Mètis” community exercising Kelly Lake Métis rights;

– Meaningful inclusion in processes that threaten Kelly Lake Métis lands, culture, food and livelihood;

– Fair and equitable support and treatment of the people and the community by government and industry; and

– Discontinuation of current structures acting as barriers to the above (i.e. BC Environmental Assessment Act).

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ReferencesAndrews, G. 1985. Métis Outpost: Memoirs of the First Schoolmaster at the Métis Settlement of

Kelly Lake, BC, 1923-1925. Victoria, BC. Kelly Lake Métis Settlement Society (KLMSS). 2012. Historic Overview. Available at:

http://a100.gov.bc.ca/appsdata/epic/documents/p311/d30710/1249942748941_a72e5ac884bf5994eab790d18b2b6e35f61c2f105c9c214aecf182f80bcce09d.pdf. Accessed 23June2012.

KSDavison & Associates (KSDA). 2012. Kelly Lake Métis Settlement Society Aboriginal Traditional Knowledge Assessment for the BC Hydro Site C Project. Consultant’s report. Prepared for BC Hydro. New Westminster, BC.

Robinson, M. 1983. Monkman Coal Project Infrastructure Stage III: Heritage Resource Impact Management Study: The Land Use and Occupancy System of the Métis Trappers of Kelly Lake, British Columbia. Petro-Canada Coal Division, Calgary, Alberta.

Stantec Consulting. 2010. Kelly Lake Métis Settlement Society Aboriginal Traditional Knowledge Study for the Enbridge Northern Gateway Project. Calgary, Alberta.

Stantec Consulting. 2011. Traditional Ecological Knowledge and Land Use Study: Kelly Lake Apetokosan Nation Grande Prairie Mainline Loop (Karr North Section) Pipeline Project. Calgary, Alberta.

Tanner, O. 1977. Time-Life Books Old West Series: The Canadians. Time-Life Books. Alexandra, Virginia.

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