This has been another challenging year for us with the lack of response by the Ministers to our letters requesting consultation and then along came COVID-19 which really put a damper on our activities. As a result of this pandemic we have had to cancel our Annual General Meeting for this year.
We will endeavor to provide any important updates through our website, Facebook and mailouts. We continue to be accepted as intervenors by the Canada Energy Regulator (CER) on major pipeline projects. This allows us the opportunity to present Michel First Nation as a signatory to Treaty Six and to acknowledge that although we no longer have a land base, we are still an Aboriginal collective with Treaty Rights. These projects, which run through our Traditional territory, can and do have adverse effects on Michel members who continue to pursue our rights to hunt, trap, fish, pick medicines and gather in these areas. We participate in the hearings and ensure that our concerns are heard. We have been in meetings with CER who have acknowledged the Chief and Council/Friends of Michel Society as representing Michel First Nation and have taken our concerns to the Ministers. We are also actively involved with the City of Edmonton in various projects they are undertaking particularly any disturbance in the river valley. This includes the Light Rail Transit, excavations around the E L Smith Water treatment plant and along the Commonwealth Interpretive Trail, which runs along the River from the old power plant to just beyond the Groat Bridge. We have participated in various meetings and have monitored an archeological dig by the water treatment plant. The City is appreciative of the input Michel and other First Nations have provided to ensure respect for the land and traditions. Chief and Council continue to represent Michel First Nation to local communities letting them know who we are and about our history. We applied to The Indigenous Community Support Fund for funding to provide support to our membership who are suffering hardships due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Our first application was denied but we were invited to reapply when more funding became available. We did and were approved for funding, not near the amount we applied for but what we were approved for will allow us to provide limited funds to our members. This is not a wage subsidy program and is designed to provide food and/or personal COVID-19 safety supplies to members. An application form is included in this mailout and available on the website. If you are eligible to apply and have not received COVID-19 relief funding from any other First Nation source, please fill out the form and send it back to us. You can either scan & email this back to: michelfirstnationofficial@gmail.com or mail to: Michel First Nation 22-53009 Range Road 20 Parkland County AB T7Y 2G8 We will process the application and send a cheque by return mail. *PROCESSING WILL BEGIN 2 WEEKS AFTER THIS MAILOUT* ABOUT THE FRIENDS OF MICHEL SOCIETY/MICHEL FIRST NATION The Friends of Michel Society was incorporated in February of 1991. This Society represents the urban and rural membership of the Michel First Nation with an estimated 900 + status and non-status descendants of Michel and the original signatories of Treaty Six. When the Band was enfranchised under questionable circumstances in 1958, we lost our Reserve land and Indian Status as defined within the Indian Act. With the passing of Bill C-31 in 1985 the majority of members received their Status back, but not Band status. During that time, a group of members organized with the intent of lobbying the government to re-establish the Band. In order to apply for funding to operate, the Society was created to receive federal Government funding as they did not recognize the Michel people as a Band. From the beginning the Chief and Council, as elected at our Annual General Meeting, have served as President and Directors of the Friends of Michel Society. Our mandate is to continue lobbying the Crown to fulfill their fiduciary duty to begin meaningful discussions with MFN to re-establish our Band and to right the wrongs of the past, with the continued support of our membership.
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