EDIT: An early version of the article noted that John Malcolm of the McMurray Métis Local 1935, he is not. It also wrote that the eviction occurred on Jan. 22, 1979 when in reality is was sometime between the late 1970 and early 1980.
Council will meet on March 12, 2019 to discuss requesting a federal inquiry into the Moccasin Flats evictions.
On hand to speak about the Indigenous settlement will be John Malcolm who set up a teepee along the Athabasca River as silent protest in June 2018.
Afterwards, Council will debate if they should proceed with a federal inquiry into Moccasin Flats.
History
According to the report commissioned by the McMurray Métis Local 1935, the Municipality conspired with the housing subsidiary of oilsands giant Syncrude, Northward Developments Ltd. to evict the residents.
The goal was to make room for development, which became the present-day Syncrude towers.
The residents of Moccasin Flats were invited to a meeting, their houses were demolished and burned.
Bill Loutit, CEO of the McMurray Métis, called their actions “infuriating”, but hopes for reconciliation and a resolution.
“Our hope is that it will lead to actions today that this council and us can continue to work together to reconcile what happened and move forward in a correct direction for everyone involved.”
Council previously asked for the involvement of the provincial government into the matter.
Also included in tomorrow’s meeting will be recognition of the International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination and a progress report on the Strategic Plan.
