EDMONTON -- The Alberta government has signed a framework deal with its Treaty 8 First Nations to take a more hands-on approach to solving problems on a range of issues.
The deal creates working groups to deal with issues in areas such as health, education, and infrastructure.
It was signed by Premier Rachel Notley and deputy grand Chief Isaac Laboucan-Avirom at the legislature Tuesday.
Laboucan-Avirom said change is needed.
"We don't really feel that we've been benefiting out of our natural resources that have been coming from our territories," said Laboucan-Avirom.
"Why should we have second-class education when Treaty 8 territory has been feeding and educating thousands of people?
"The measuring stick will be in the actions."
Notley said the framework is designed to chase problems early rather than react to them, and to ensure that First Nations people have the resources and opportunities necessary to chart their own future.
"Self-determination is a critical, critical piece in frankly anyone's life," she said.
"For many, many years, many indigenous communities have not felt they had the privilege of exercising the choices for their own self-determination."
Treaty 8 was signed in 1899 and includes all of northern Alberta.
