Stories

"For years to come, Indigenous people and non-Indigenous can learn and reconnect together around these names. They can educate one another in the history of this place and walk together in creating a new future. Canadians can learn a language new to them, but so old that it is intertwined with the landscape. Edmontonians can take pride in being a leader in the country once again."

"By trivially applying names and definitions, one creates a situation in which the teachings, history and knowledge of previous usage of the names is replaced with more modern usage... This not only conflicts with traditional naming conventions, but also erodes the deeper spiritual understandings that names and naming carry in Indigenous ways of being."

In its initial state, Chief Lapotac’s reserve, later known as Stony Plain Indian Reserve and finally Enoch Cree Nation, would be approximately 44 square miles or 44 sections of land.  The reserve encompassed a land base that stretched from present day Acheson, closer to Spruce Grove, then the banks of the North Saskatchewan River on its South East Corner. The first significant surrender took place on January 20, 1902 in which twelve sections of the Northern portion of the reserve were surrendered and taken up for settlement. The sale of these lands attracted many purchasers including McDougall and Secord among others. In subsequent discussions, obligations and payment to Enoch would be questioned when the government approached with another request for surrender.

Acknowledging that the notion of ownership was only allotted to the Creator and other deities, Indigenous peoples operated under the law that everything upon this land was provided for our utilization; hence reciprocity and thankfulness must be maintained to ensure the utilization is maintained. Under this premise, land usage and resource extraction were often carried out under the mechanism of Treaty with other tribal nations to ensure co-habitation and co-existence.

The history around these claims, like many other areas of Indigenous history and wrongdoings, would fade behind the dominant narrative of prominent Edmontonians.

When First Nations and Aboriginal residents emerge from the pristine valley of Amiskwaciwaskahikan, they are confronted with a figure that holds great animosity within their communities. Granted the honour of having a bustling enterprise centre and residential area named for him, Frank Oliver remains a polarizing figure for some.