Alberta First Nations get funds

The Canadian government has doled out C$3.7 million to five Alberta aboriginal communities to aid economic development through oil and gas drilling, forestry and power generation.

Indian Affairs and Northern Development Minister Andy Scott said economic diversity and prosperity is a “cornerstone of the government’s commitment to working with First Nations, Metis and Inuit to improve their quality of life ….”

The Samson Cree Nation received C$1.76 million to develop a C$13.9 million partnership with Western Lakota Energy Services to gain a 50 percent interest in two drilling rigs for use in northern Alberta and British Columbia.

EnCana and High Point Resources have contracts that guarantee Western Lakota 195 drilling days for the rigs over two years and on a “best efforts” basis after that. Apache Canada has signed a letter of intent to use the rigs under a “best-efforts” arrangement.

The partnership is projecting 20 direct and 77 indirect jobs for Samson residents at the end of five years.

The other allocations range from C$140,000 to C$1 million.

—Gary Park