FORT CHIPEWYAN — Alberta Premier Jim Prentice and aboriginal chiefs from the oilsands region have agreed to sit down to try to deal with concerns that have resulted in a number of lawsuits and legislative reviews.
Prentice has met with local leaders in Fort Chipewyan and says he will deal personally with issues that include land use, the environment and health.
Groups including the Athabasca Chipewyan, Mikisew Cree and the Fort McKay First Nation have been vocal critics of Alberta’s policies on oilsands development.
Prentice says it’s better to try to work things out between leaders than to leave it to the courts.
He says his own personal history in aboriginal relations should give talks enough credibility to actually achieve something.