Ermineskin Cree Nation has approved the sale of a tract of land, known locally as the Ermineskin Land, to the City of Parksville. The lands, located at the civic address of 790 Hirst Avenue, encompass approximately 35.9 hectares or 97 acres and were purchased by Ermineskin Cree Nation thirty years ago as a community investment. Since that date, Ermineskin Cree Nation has attempted to utilize the lands as investment property. However, after thirty years of discussions and negotiations with the City of Parksville, Ermineskin Cree Nation has ultimately decided to sell the lands for $1.3 million.
Ermineskin Cree Nation is confident that this decision will allow the Nation to better utilize the investment capital, while also allowing the natural environment within the lands to flourish. The Ermineskin Cree Nation and the City of Parksville share a vision for the preservation and conservation of this important area and the sale of the lands supports that vision by allowing the City’s residents and their future generations to enjoy the area. Chief Randy Ermineskin described the vision for the lands using the Cree word “Witaskiwin”, which means “living together on the land”. The agreement achieves the goals of Witaskiwin by solidifying a land-sharing arrangement among the residents of the City of Parksville.
In furtherance of this vision, and at the request of Ermineskin Cree Nation, the sale of the lands is conditional upon the lands remaining in the Agricultural Land Reserve and being maintained as a park in perpetuity. Ermineskin Cree Nation is pleased that the City of Parksville has agreed to preserve the environmental integrity of the lands. As stated by Chief Randy Ermineskin, “the Ermineskin Cree Nation is honoured to be a part of the City’s goal of preserving the environmental integrity of the land by ensuring that all of the City’s residents can enjoy the land’s natural beauty. The principles of trust, integrity and dignity upon which this transaction is based are hallmarks of Canada’s goal of reconciliation and we are proud to have been given the opportunity to help achieve this goal. It would be fitting for the parties to consider placing a monument on the land in the future to commemorate this important agreement.”
For more information please contact:
Samuel Minde or call 780-312-6124
