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 Inter-dependency, being one with nature, and
using only what you need, are wisdoms that western culture calls
community development, self-help, and environmentalism. Our Aboriginal
heritage is a mixture of hardships, triumphs, and a merging of cultures
that reflect the traditional wisdom "Ma Ma We Atoskitan"- Let's
work together.
The Beaver, Cree, Slavey, Chipewyan, and Dene Tha
were among the first people to live in what is now Northern Alberta.
Speaking a variety of Athapaskan and Algonquian languages, each
Aboriginal tribe reflected a unique characteristics that and traditions.
Today there are 29 First Nations across our region.
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Northern Alberta is also home to many of Alberta's
Métis, a distinct people resulting from the union of the Aboriginal
and western worlds. Half of the members of the Métis Nation of Alberta
call Northern Alberta home. And ours is the only province in Canada
with land-based Métis; all eight Métis Settlements are located in
Northern Alberta. The Grande Cache Cooperatives and Enterprises are
also unique to Alberta. Originally from Eastern Canada, the Aboriginal residents of these
communities first lived in Jasper National Park and were then moved
to small communities east of the Park Boundary.
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Aboriginal people in Northern Alberta are taking an active role in education and
economic development. They are keeping pace with today's rapidly
changing society and its technical advances. Recent years have also
witnessed popular demand for Aboriginal cultural contributions such as
Sweat Lodges, traditional medicine, talking circles,
and alternative justice.
Every year as more and more of our Aboriginal
residents recapture the beauty of their cultures, Northern Alberta
benefits from the diversity in our region.
That's Northern
Alberta!
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