b'LAND RECLAMATIONBENEFITS OF GAT TAH KW DRFN members are eager to see URBAN RESERVE FOR DRFN the new business hub developed. ECONOMICMore potential for self-generatingCurrently, the closest place for themrevenue than rural reserve landsIncreased employmentto use their status cards is Princeopportunities for DRFN members George, which is about a five-hour Creation of an environment for thesuccessful development of DRFN- drive southowned businessesCapitalizing on both rural and urban economies with diversified land holdings from developments; increased demandshorted our membership a bunch of land, for professional services during develop- Makadahay explains. Access to wider markets, high-ments; positive impact on the local real income consumers, more skilledestate market; and the ability to collab- DRFNfileditsTLEclaimwiththe labour and lower transportationorate, partner and cost share with DRFNfederal government in 1999, which the costs than on the rural reserve on municipal services.Government of Canada accepted for SOCIAL AND POLITICAL IMPACTS negotiation in 2004, along with Blueberry A central location for DRFNTLE UPDATE Rivers TLE claim. DRFNs land selectionsgovernment, businesses andDRFN is also in the process of havingfor the TLE encompass 13 rural parcels organizations to operate thousands of acres of land returned tonear the Doig River Reserve, including the Nation under a Treaty Land Entitlement1,000 acres at Big Camp and 860 acres Reduced dependence on federal (TLE) settlement. Returning this land government funding to the Nation has been a much longerat Petersons Crossing; another 8,400 process. The TLE settlement stems fromacres spread across four parcels around Raised standard of living fora shortfall of reserve land provided bythe existing reserve; 4,900 acres spread our members across five parcels at Kih Tsaa?dze near the federal government to Fort St. John Increased ability to meet social,Beaver Band when the Band adheredthe Alberta border (declared a tribal parkhealth and education needs withinto Treaty 8 in 1916 (Fort St. John Beaverby the Nation in 2011); and another 5,000-the urban area Band split up and formed Doig River Firstacre parcel in Alberta. When we started Improved cultural integration withinNation and Blueberry River First Nationsour genealogy in our calculations, we were in 1977). When we were first signed upactually owed almost 20,000 acres per the community of Fort St. John with the Treaty, they missed a bunch ofNation, Makadahay says, referring to our members. They miscalculated andDRFN and Blueberry River First Nations.process so it could have the land trans-ferred from fee simple to reserve. The application was approved by the federal government this past April. The Nations strong relationship with Fort St. John helped ensure the success of the appli-cation process. We had a really good team to work with within Fort St. John, Makadahay says. Mayor Lori Ackerman and her team really championed this for us. Its part of the relationship weve built with the local city. Were always involved in fundraisers and just being part of the culture. It is our town, so we welcome and open different events for the city all the time. Its mostly about the relationship weve had for the last 15 years.For the City, the benefits of an urban reserve are multifold: increased revenueDRFN Chief Trevor Makadahay with the DRFN Council96A CCAB PUBLICATION2022'