Piikani Nation referendum rejects proposal to lease land for commercial development

Members of the Piikani Nation in southern Alberta overwhelmingly rejected a proposed land deal in a referendum on Wednesday that some members say asked them to give up too much with too little information.

Nearly three quarters of those who cast ballots voted no on the bid that would have freed up 15 hectares of Piikani reserve land along Highway 3 about the size of 19 Canadian football fields for new businesses. Only 300 members voted.

"We have very little land, and we need to use it well," said Wynonna Smith, a Piikani member who voted No.

Smith said she has too many unanswered questions, including who would pay for the new ventures, and who would profit.

The current chief and council proposed to build a gas station, convenience store and other businesses along a strip of highway to attract visitors.

Chief Stanley Grierpreviously said a Piikani company would have leased the land for 45 years and returned profits to the band. He said a positive referendum vote would have allowed the nation to apply for federal funds to help pay for the project, though he said the price tag was unconfirmed.

Griersaid the band would have retained ownership of the property, hoping to dispel fears someone else could end up with it if the deal failed.

The chief did not respond to requests for comment about the referendum result.

Similar land votes

Glenda Pard, anotherPiikani member who voted No, said she worried about losing the land if something went wrong, such as a missed mortgage payments. She said members needed more details about the deal, and more time to understand it.

"Are we going to go into another settlement, another agreement with our eyes closed again?"

Other First Nations have also seen opposition to similar votes over land.

A referendum on the Blood Tribe this spring passed by one ballot, allowing that nation to authorize a 99-year lease over land.

In October, members of the Stoney Nakoda First Nation defeated a proposal to set aside 3,000 hectares for commercial development.

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