The ribbon has been cut for the new Red Pheasant Cree Nation Centex Gas Bar in North Battleford.
The gas station and convenience store mark the first completed commercial developments on the Red Pheasant urban land in North Battleford. The gas bar is situated at the corner of Territorial Drive and 15th Ave. in the city.
It includes a gas bay for vehicles to fill up, as well as a GOmarket convenience store. According to their Facebook page, regular store hours are 7 a.m. to 11 p.m. each day.
The grand opening was held on a chilly May 19 afternoon with dignitaries from Red Pheasant, North Battleford, Battleford and elsewhere marking the occasion.
鈥淚t鈥檚 been a long time coming,鈥� said Red Pheasant Chief Clint Wuttunee. He told the audience that it all went back to the treaty with the federal Crown in 1876. There was a formula for land, and Red Pheasant had never received its full allotment.
In 1992, a Treaty Land Entitlement agreement was signed between the First Nations and the provincial and federal government, to restore those lands under that Treaty. As fulfillment of that agreement, Red Pheasant acquired the land in 1992.
On Jan. 26, 2010, an intersection agreement, as well as municipal services and compatibility agreement, were signed by North Battleford and Red Pheasant Cree Nation covering 346 acres of that urban reserve land in North Battleford.
A new agreement on the intersection was approved in 2019, which amended the intersection location to the 15th Ave. and Territorial Drive. Initial construction began around that same time on the development, starting with infrastructure work.
鈥淭here was a vision there by our membership, by our elders and by our leadership to have economic development here,鈥� said Wuttunee.
The gas bar is the first of what is expected to be extensive development on the urban reserve, with the prospect of more businesses and residential developments. A conceptual map is up on the site, outlining some of what is envisioned for the area.
Wuttunee said there are 鈥渂ig plans鈥� for the land, which they will share with the community soon.
Federation of Sovereign Indigenous Nations Grand Chief Bobby Cameron also saw great potential for the entire land. 鈥淲e鈥檙e talking about real estate, schools. The list goes on and on.鈥�
Cameron said that when the Chief and council signed and negotiated the treaty, 鈥渢his is what they envisioned, for 2021. That we would have the treaty right to a livelihood and we would have a treaty based economy.鈥�
Mayor David Gillan of North Battleford congratulated Red Pheasant on the grand opening, saying 鈥渨e鈥檙e very proud of this development and we look forward to many more. As Chief Cameron said, the future is bright for this particular tract of land.鈥�
Mayor Ames Leslie of Battleford welcomed the gas bar development and encouraged even more. 鈥淥ur councils, Mayor Gillan鈥檚 council and mine, are very open to development of Indigenous business and Indigenous investments in our communities.鈥�
鈥淒evelopments like this, they really bring hope,鈥� said Battlefords MLA Jeremy Cockrill. 鈥淲hen I look across the land here I think there are some exciting things to come here for the Battlefords as a whole but Red Pheasant Cree Nation specifically.鈥�
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