Millar Western joins in Alexander First Nation Treaty Day celebrations
When band members gathered on the powwow grounds of Alexander First Nation to mark their annual Treaty Day on August 31st, Millar Western woodlands staff were on hand to observe the ceremonies and take part in the celebrations.
In a tradition dating back to 1876, when the Alexander Cree band became a signatory member of the Confederacy of Treaty 6, band members lined up on the sunny, end-of-August day to have their names checked against an official list and receive a ceremonial payment from an RCMP officer in red dress serge. While an important part of honouring the history and preserving the culture of the Alexander Nation, symbolic payments from a red-coated Mountie are only part of what makes Treaty Days special for Alexander families. Food, fun and a trade fair are all part of the event, and band members warmly welcome neighbours and visitors to join the party.
Millar Western’s representatives were pleased to take part in this year’s event. Forest Protection Coordinator Shannon Crossland, Planning Superintendent Ken Anderson and Helitack Crew members Andrew LaFleche and Donald Arcand set up a display to help inform the community about current forest protection projects, including firefighting and mountain pine beetle control activities and flood-damage rehabilitation work.
Alexander First Nation band members Donald Arcand and Andrew LaFleche are part of Millar Western’s “helitack” team, an initial-fire-attack crew that provides helicopter-supported, rapid response to fire starts in the company’s forest management area. While manning the Millar Western display, Andrew and Donald explained the firefighting skills required in their work and provided other information about the company’s woodlands management and forest protection activities.
Andrew LaFleche and Donald Arcand
answer questions about wildfire-fighting
As well as sharing staff time, Millar Western provided three door prizes for the Treaty Day event: a four-man raft, a cooler and a retail shopping card.
Andrew LaFleche presents young
winner with first-place prize
The Alexander First Nation, a primarily Cree community with some 1800 members, has its main reserve land and administration office at Riviere Que Barre, near Morinville, 55 km northwest of Edmonton. The Nation takes its name from its first Chief, Katstaweskum, whose baptismal name was Alexandre. It is one of 10 aboriginal communities whose traditional lands overlap Millar Western’s Whitecourt Forest Management Agreement area, and with whom the company conducts consultations on long-range forest management and annual operating plans. The Alexander nation’s Harvey Burnstick has been a member of the company’s Public Advisory Committee since 2008.