The leadership of Lac La Ronge Indian Band, Montreal Lake Cree Nation, Peter Ballantyne Cree Nation and the Prince Albert Grand Council say they welcome $15 million in federal funding for a new convention centre.
The funding was announced Friday afternoon and will be used for the proposed Prince Albert Convention and Cultural Event Centre.
The funding was made available through the Green and Inclusive Community Buildings program.
The centre’s name is said to be Kistahpinanihk, meaning the “meeting place.” Officials say the centre will reflect Prince Albert’s longstanding role as a gather place for northern First Nations and Metis.
“This announcement puts real momentum behind a partnership that has been built carefully over time,” said Chief Joyce McLeod of Meadow Lake Cree Nation in a media release about the funding. “Prince Albert has always been our meeting place — where our people come for business, education, health care and community events.”
The City of Prince Albert had entered an agreement with the Woodland Cree First Nations to explore shared ownership of the convention centre.
Under the agreement, the Woodland Cree nations will own up to 45 percent of the completed facility, with the City of Prince Albert owning the rest.
“Reconciliation has to live in the structure of a project, not just in the language around it,” said Chief Tammy Cook-Searson of LLRIB. “Ownership gives our Nations a real voice, real accountability and a real stake in what’s being built.”
Woodland Cree chiefs say Friday’s federal funding announcement marks a key milestone for the convention centre.
According to the media release, the convention centre has the potential to create up to 600 jobs in will serve a regional population of more than 210,000 people.
(Photo provided)