The McMurray Métis have published their review done on the history of Moccasin Flats, a Métis settlement that was formally located in downtown Fort McMurray on the southern bank of the Snye River at the confluence of the Athabasca and Clearwater Rivers.
Researchers Hereward Longley and Tara Joly were commissioned by the McMurray Métis in April 2018 to prepare the report on the events that occurred on the settlement in the late 1970s and early 1980s.
The 110 page report, The Moccasin Flats Evictions: Métis Home, Forced Relocation, and Resilience in Fort McMurray Alberta, says at the time, the Municipality and the housing subsidiary of oilsands giant Syncrude, Northward Developments Ltsd., collaborated to evict the Moccasin Flats families to make way for an apartment building, known today as the Syncrude towers, and a marina, which was never built.
The evictions took place around Jan. 22, 1979 when the residents of Moccasin Flats were invited to a meeting while their houses were bulldozed and then later burned.
President of the McMurray Métis, Gail Gallupe told reporters what she was surprised to learn from the report.
“I learned how many people really were affected, I only really focused on my own little family,” said Gallupe. “It came to light all the other people that were involved and I didn’t have the knowledge that there were that many people affected.”
The report outlines that 14 families had permanent dwellings at Moccasin Flats while an additional 15-30 families or individuals made their home seasonally at the settlement.
Theresa Okakia told reporters that her and her parents were one of the families evicted from the area. After hearing the findings from the report, Okakia said she felt it was an act of discrimination.
“The White people are trying to get into the environment of natives,” said Okakia. “There was mostly discrimination those days, even the boys and the girls were all discriminated as natives.”
The report recommends several ways for reconciliation including compensation, a land transfer, a monument and cultural centre, as well as a formal apology.
Syncrude spokesman, Leithan Slade says the company values its relationship with local Indigenous people.
“Until we have had full time to review and completely digest this document it would be premature to comment on any of the specifics, including those recommendations within it, but as mentioned, we are committed to working with the community on this,” said Slade.
At the city council meeting on July 10, 2018 the Municipality voted unanimously to call on the Government of Alberta to conduct a public inquiry into Moccasin Flats.
“What a costly endeavour for them, we’ve already done the work,” said Gallupe.
She then went on to quote the Minister of Indigenous Relations, Richard Feehan in reply to Mayor Don Scott:
“Given that the McMurray Métis report will inform all parties regarding the events that took place in the area in the late 1970s, a public inquiry into this matter would be premature. After carefully reading the facts in the report it’s clear that the time for action is now and not for another report or inquiry, those are delay tactics.”
The McMurray Métis have requested a meeting with the managing director of Syncrude Canada Doreen Cole and Mayor Don Scott to discuss the report and examine its recommendations by November 30.
