By Alex Soloducha

Land designation vote is a yes for the Peter Ballantyne Cree Nation

Jan 21, 2014 | 10:40 AM

On Wednesday, the Peter Ballantyne Cree Nation (PBCN) held a land designation vote for commercial reserves.

The results were concluded on Monday.

Ted Merasty is the land manager at the PBCN. He explained that the vote was necessary so that they could be sure the band members wanted to develop the unused land owned by the band.

“The band buys land, converts it to reserve status and then under the existing Indian act and under the Indian referendum regulations… the chief and council have to ask the membership for permission to use those commercial reserves for commercial ventures, that is, for business purposes,” said Merasty.

According to Merasty, the ballot simply asked if the band was in agreement to use the land for commercial ventures.

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In the end, the majority of the votes were in favour of developing the land.

Their members span over at least seven communities with over 10,000 people. Although only 688 votes were cast, Merasty said they were impressed considering it was a non-election vote.

The band has land in several areas of the province. In Prince Albert, this includes the Sixth Avenue East gas bar, where the Petro-Canada gas station currently stands.

This is called the Phillip Morin Indian Reserve. There are two parcels of land south of the Super 8 Motel which they are hoping to use for commercial ventures. They also have a third parcel of land across from the Victoria Hospital which is now 42 acres that they can use for development. 

Merasty said it was his job to make sure that the land designation vote went forward and he was hopeful that it would pass. Since it has, it is out of his hands.

“Now it’s up to chief and council as to what will happen and what will be developed on those parcels,” said Merasty.

They currently have no specific plans for development of the lands, according to Merasty.

news@panow.com

On Twitter: @alex_soloducha