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www.edmonton.ca

Urban Reserves | City of Edmonton

This Urban Reserve Strategy establishes a framework for the City to work with any recognized First Nation interested in developing an urban reserve.
www.edmonton.ca www.edmonton.ca

Jaimy Miller
(She/Her) • 2nd
Director, Indigenous Relations at City of Edmonton
1w • 1 week ago
This morning, the Executive Committee of City Council unanimously approved an Urban Reserve Strategy for the City of Edmonton. Check out the news release for more information, including quotes from Treaty 6 Grand Chief Okimaw Vernon Watchmaker and Enoch Cree Nation Chief Billy Morin

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FAQs
What are Urban Reserves and why is Edmonton developing this strategy?

An urban reserve is land designated as a First Nation reserve within an urban centre. Urban reserves are established by federally-recognized First Nations through the federal Addition-to-Reserve/Reserve Creation policy.

First Nations, as with all governments, desire to create economic development opportunities and provide services to enhance the quality of life of their citizens or preserve cultural linkages. First Nations need to ensure access to resources and services to their citizens, and today many of those services are offered most efficiently in centres such as municipalities. In some cases, First Nations also seek to acquire lands that have cultural significance. Urban reserves can greatly spur First Nations economic development as they allow First Nations to access economic opportunities that may be unavailable on existing reserve lands.

The City of Edmonton is responding to increased inquiries and calls for urban reserves, including Indigenous economic development opportunities and service provision by First Nations for their members in Edmonton. Additionally, the federal government has a newer, more streamlined approach to urban reserve creation and this may lead to more interest and inquiries.
 
I wonder if this deal can go both ways, would non-native people be able to buy land on reserves?
 
I completely understand it all, I just don't want a two-tier society to occur, because that will end up causing problems for everyone in the future.
I don't think it will be fair that one group of people can buy land and change it to a reserve with all the benefits and privileges entitled while the rest cannot. It has to go both ways in some form or future generations will end up complaining.
 
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It has been a tiered society for some time because of how Indigenous people have been treated and also forced to leave their land (see history of Frank Oliver - specific to Edmonton, the Indigenous people were forced outside the City of Edmonton).

This is part of reconciliation and an attempt to remove that tiered society rather than create it.
 
'A big hairy goal would be acquiring land in the Quarters [the neighbourhood just east of downtown Edmonton], which has had a vision for development for a long time [but] hasn't taken off.

It can be established as an urban reserve, which would attract new investment for a specific, Indigenous kind of development: housing, social supports, maybe some new government and servicing arms, new servicing options for multiple First Nations and treaty organizations, right downtown.'
 
A portion of Blatchford also makes sense.

'Or, maybe a reserve such as Enoch or some of the reserves from up north around Treaty 8 acquire a piece of land by NAIT and build residential for their students. If they had a place they can call home that has some kokums and some mushums – which are grandmother and grandfather – they can feel a little bit more comfortable.'
 
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