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TitleEconomic development and resource utilization: The Fort Chipewyan Indian bands
Publication TypeConference Proceedings
Year of Publication1990
AuthorsSlavik, J.
Publication Languageen
KeywordsFort Chipewyan economy
Abstract

The author, lawyer for both the Athabasca Chipewyan and Mikisew Cree First Nation of Fort Chipewyan, provides the reader with some interesting facts about the economy and developments in the Ft. Chipewyan community. Slavik explains that the public sector (schools, Parks Canada, Government of Alberta, Bands, and the Improvement District) provides approximately 90% of the jobs. Because of this, the corporate environment in Fort Chipewyan is a direct result of the community being dependent on exterior public sector sources of financing for most corporate or entrepreneurial activities. Furthermore, 70% of the population are Treaty Indians and the two Band councils in For Chipewyan are in control of the majority of money that flows through the community. While this places a tremendous amount of political and economic power directly in the hands of Band councils, Slavik explains that Fort Chip has had excellent leaders in recent years. With this, Slavik states that the greatest resource held by Ft. Chipewyan is the quality and vision of the leadership within the community. While this is all true, he seems to ignore that as late as 1970; traditional trapping alone provided over 65% of the employment in Fort Chipewyan. This article displays the virtues of a modern-day economy and plays down the importance and relevance of the traditional culture, stating that such activities are "no longer required".

Notes

Conference paper written by the lawyer of the Mikisew Cree and the Athabasca Chipewyan people; book chapter

Locational Keywords

Fort Chipewyan, Alberta

Group

CEMA

Citation Key24669

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