Fort McMurray wants public inquiry into removal of Indigenous settlement

The Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalo will ask the provincial government to launch a publicinquiry into the forced evictions decades ago of First Nations and Mtis people from an area known as Moccasin Flats.

On Tuesday, the municipal council voted to call on the province to launch an inquiry after it heard presentations from the administration and members of the public.

Though the municipality's request cannot compel the province to undertake a public inquiry, Mayor Don Scott said if one is granted, subpoenas could be issued for those involved.

"Inquiries have the power to obtain a fuller understanding of the truth," Scott said. "The reason that they can do that is that they can compel witnesses and they can force people to produce documents."

'I think we have a chance... to do the right thing'

6 years ago

Duration 1:19

A mash-up of voices at Wood Buffalo municipal council Tuesday as they debated whether a public inquiry should be called into the Moccasin Flats- a riverside Indigenous community that was removed.

Moccasin Flats, near the north end ofdowntown Fort McMurray, was an area where some First Nations andMtisfamilies lived for part of each year.

At least 12 families were evicted inthe late1970sand early1980sto accommodate urban development.

Over the years, Indigenous people have held protests and demanded an apology for the forced evictions.

One speaker at Tuesday's council meeting waselder James Grant, who grew up in Moccasin Flats and said he is still hurt by what happened to the riverside community.

"Moccasin Flats is torture by the city and Syncrude," said Grant, 75. "And that is wrong."

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The land is now home to theRiver Park Glen apartment complex and a recreation centre.

Inquires can compel witnesses

Members of FortMcMurray'sIndigenous communities have called the evictions unjust and point to what happened as an example of systemic racism that plagued the oilsandsregion.

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The municipality has said it will participate if an inquiry is called.

In the years after the evictions, Syncrude developed the Moccasin Flats land through one of its companies. The company has distanced itself from responsibility for the removal of Indigenous families.

SpokespersonWill Gibson said Wednesdayit's too early to speculate about the company'sinvolvement should an inquiry be called.

Gibson said the expropriation was carried out by the municipality.

Connect with David Thurton, CBC'sFort McMurraycorrespondent, onFacebook,Twitter,LinkedInor email him atdavid.thurton@cbc.ca