Thanks Came for the article (English version - the rest) Members voted on six ballot questions related to the project in April 2014. Of 1,209 eligible voters, 436 to 437 cast ballots, with approval percentages ranging from 77 to 79 per cent.
That now leaves Muskowekwan with a 99-year lease of the land, along with a mineral lease, which grants 100 per cent mineral rights to the First Nation and Encanto for what’s underground.
“That will be the first mineral lease issued in Canada through the Indian mining rights,” Bellerose said.
Independence, self-sufficiency and First Nations youth
When asked about his motivations in pursuing on-reserve, self-sufficient revenue, Bellerose was direct and pointed:
“My focus on doing that is by implementing treaty and inherent rights. Our forefathers gave us everything we need. We don’t need anything from no federal government or no provincial government.
“The different levels of government do not give us or replace what our forefathers gave us,” he said.
That same passion and commitment was affirmed by one of his colleagues, Cheri Moreau who works out of the Regina office for Indigenous and Northern Affairs Canada.
As director of lands and economic development for Saskatchewan, she and her team worked directly with Bellerose on the potash project.
“He’s very dedicated to his community. And I feel that his passion is to help make things better for them, so that Muskowekwan can be this really prosperous community,” she said.
“He worked really hard so he can learn everything there is to know about running a potash mine. That takes a lot of dedication,” she added.
Moreau said her staff members echoed similar sentiments. “Everyone that works with Chief Reg, from our environmental officers to our land officers, all really loved working with him.
“He might not be an expert in some of the environmental regulations. But he would take time to talk to everyone,” she said.
It’s that knack for communication that Moreau said lends to Bellerose’s influence.
Reflecting further on his motivators, he was quick to cite the youth of Muskowekwan.
“They’re the ones saying they don’t want welfare. The young people are saying, ‘we want investment and skill development. We want a job.’ You know? The young people want to work,” he said.
If there’s another description apt for Bellerose, it’s that he’s perceptive.
According to data from the 2011 census, out of Muskowekwan’s 606 residents, 345 were 24 years old or younger; 215 residents were between the ages of 5 and 19.
Those numbers don’t account for the approximately 1,100 members living off reserve, all of whom Bellerose said he and his council are obligated to support.
“The treaty rights of people are portable; the treaty rights follow you no matter where you reside,” he said.
Money generated from the Encanto project will provide the means to support all of Muskowekwan’s members, on- or off-reserve, he said.
Looking ahead and next steps
Bellerose said the next two years are crucial to ensure the project is successful.
“The next phase would be getting into that detailed engineering for potash, where people can really have a look at what’s there and what the cost of everything is going to be,” he said. “The sooner the better. We’ve been at it for about eight years. So obviously this is not an easy or short journey.”
The ultimate goal, one he hopes will be realized in that timeframe, is getting people paid.
“We can get to construction and get jobs created. Get the men and women and youth of Muskowekwan working,” he said.
“I believe that if you get up every morning and try to get something done that day, opportunities can come. If you sit back and do nothing and wait for everything to be handed to you, I don’t believe those things will happen,” he said.