Rossdale zoning changes move Edmonton closer to Indigenous urban reserve

Edmonton city council has approved zoning amendments in Rossdale linked to input from the Treaty Six Confederacy, moving the city closer to developing an Indigenous urban reserve in the coveted area.

The River Crossing redevelopment of Rossdale Flats received approval along with a plan to pursue direct partnerships with Treaty 6 First Nations on the project. The package amended zoning bylaws to add a new special area and regulations allowing for medium and large-scale development in Rossdale.

Council also approved a motion by Ward Dene Councillor Aaron Paquette endorsing continued implementation of the River Crossing business plan approved in 2019, "with rights-holding governments having direct involvement in the implementation as guided by the River Crossing Indigenous involvement approach."

Speaking on behalf of Enoch Cree Nation and the Treaty 6 Confederacy, Roger Smith praised the plan as a necessary first step toward shared decision-making and urban reserve development. He cited successful precedents including the Squamish nation's urban reserve in Vancouver and Treaty One First Nations' 100-acre development in Winnipeg. "The Enoch Cree Nation, together with the Confederacy of Treaty Six First Nations, have the capacity, the financial resources, and the authority to deal with the development of these lands eventually," Smith said.

Paquette stressed the significance of the motion's emphasis on rights-holding government involvement. "Now that the public hearing is over, we can openly speak about the fact that we're actively pursuing partnerships with Indigenous nations in order to safeguard this area, and to ensure that the Indigenous perspective remains, and in fact becomes prominent for these very important historical lands."