Chief’s Update February 2025

Dear KFN Membership,

On January 27, two council members and I attended a Department of Fisheries and Oceans meeting with elders and community members.  The meeting focused on the Integrated Fisheries Management Plan, with elders and community members discussing key concerns, including proper consultation, water levels, research quality related to Inconnu in and around Buffalo River, and community engagement. Additional topics included implementing more training programs and fishing license distribution regarding lack of community input and the impacts on protected areas in and around the Great Slave Lake.

On February 4, Chief and council held a regularly scheduled meeting. Discussions included completion of current and prior year-end audits for general membership approval and transparency. Also, there is a need to fill Finance Clerk vacancies within the department. Community programming was also a priority, with discussions on enhancing recreation, restorative justice, and youth center initiatives. Plans were made to increase the presence of the Community Health Representative and Homecare worker, and also to hire more staff in the Lands department, with the Environmental Programs Manager looking to hire causal Lands Guardians and helpers.

Council approved a motion to hold the Annual General meeting April 8 – 10, 2025 to review and update the community on prior year audits from 2019-2022. A second AGM will be scheduled later in the year to approve the remaining outstanding audits. Further community postings will provide details on available roles, including translators, cooks, helpers, and janitors for the event.

On February 13–14, Chief and Council received an in-depth monthly update from the KFN Negotiator regarding Treaty Land Entitlement (TLE), Wood Buffalo National Park (WBNP), and the Department of Fisheries and Oceans (DFO), among other topics.

At the February 18 Chief and Council meeting, a motion was passed to approve the Kamba Carnival celebration, scheduled for February 27–March 2, 2025. The KFN Lands Manager provided updates on ongoing projects and announced the hiring of an Administrative Assistant to coordinate meetings and manage detailed community projects.

At the same meeting, Colliers presented a report on duplexes purchased in March 2024 without proper funding sources. They reviewed the condition and the arctic level of construction quality, noted snow accumulation in the entryway, smoke and soot buildup. KFN has yet to receive a clear financial plan for these duplexes, which will be reviewed later. Colliers will also visit the community in late March 2025 to address housing deficiencies caused by fire and flooding. Additionally, a new architectural engineer has been appointed to oversee the Band Office project, ensuring proper consultation with KFN membership.

On February 20, KFN had the honor in meeting with MLA Sheryl Yakeleya to discuss issues regarding Health and Wellness, housing concerns, fire emergencies, culture and language funding, and the upcoming closure of Aurora College in June 2025.

Chief and Council remain committed to keeping the community informed and engaged. We look forward to working together in the coming months.

Muhsi,

Elaine Auger
KFN Chief