Athabasca County Council held a Town Hall Meeting on December 6, 2022, at the Grassland Community Hall to inform residents about an Indigenous Protected and Conservation Area (IPCA) feasibility study led by the Metis Settlement General Council. One study area encompasses 121 square km within Athabasca County, including North Buck Lake, Amisk Lake, and Big Johnson Lake.
IPCAs are lands and waters where Indigenous governments have the primary role in protecting and conserving ecosystems by managing land and habitat.
Limited information has been communicated with Athabasca County regarding the IPCA study. As such, on November 15, 2022, County passed a motion to “oppose the development of the new IPCA until such time as clarity is provided regarding assessment control, land use planning, and Athabasca County’s autonomy on lands inside the municipality’s jurisdictional boundaries and continued future use of the lands in question.”
County Council and invited guests want to share what they know about this plan and gather feedback from residents.
For more information about the feasibility study, view a presentation file supplied to the MD of Bonnyville from the consultants conducting the study and background information provided to Athabasca County from the consultant.
Questions or concerns may be directed to:
- Toma Consulting Inc.
Darrell Toma 780-413-9262
dtoma@shaw.ca
- Metis Settlements General Council
Erin McGregor 780-822-4096
consultation@msgc.ca
- Solstice Environmental Management
Carrie Selin
Cselin@solsticecanada.com
