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McDougall Church Fire & Restoration Process

The Fire

Early in the morning on May 22 2017 the McDougall Memorial United Church was set ablaze. Most of the building and artifacts inside were consumed by the fire. However, the MSMS was able to salvage the logs used to build the church. Local investigators have determined that the fire was intentionally set, but as of summer 2020 no charges have been laid.

Here's some links to news articles about the fire:

The Calgary Hearld reports that MSMS immediately suspected arson

Rocky Mountain Outlook confirms the fire was intentionally set

CBC Reports on the questions of cause

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The Application to Rebuild

In 2019 the MSMS applied to the district of Bighorn to rebuild the historic church. Community interests were allowed to submit opposition. The Nakoda Nation opposed the decision. In February 2020 the district council had a meeting that was attended by a lawyer for the nation, the MSMS president Brenda McQueen, and several community members from the ghost watershed and Morley.

Here's the documents that the MSMS used to make their case that they should be allowed to rebuild:

Appendix

Overview 2020 - 2017

1999 Settlement Agreement info

Email from Alberta Department of Historic Places

Letters sent to Stoney C&C from MSMS and their lawyers

(First?) letter to Stoney C&C from MSMS's lawyers

Permit for redevelopment from Alberta Transportation

Land Title Certificate

Alberta Historic Places Listing

Option Agreement

BC Supreme Court Decision (that MSMS feels is similar issue)

2019 MSMS Annual Report

2018 MSMS Annual Report

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Rebuilding process

The church and the MSMS has been in the news several times over the rebuilding process. Here are some links to news items about the rebuild. As a warning to readers, some of them focus only on the perspective of MSMS, and privilege the emotional value of the site to the McDougall descendants, and the historic value to settler history, above any Îethka perspectives or concerns.

Video from Global news about the rebuild

Video from Global about the appeal from the Nation

Article from the Cochrane Eagle with overview of appeal and objection

Set of three articles from the St. Albert Gazette about the appeal and objection

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In 2020 the Nakoda Nation asked the courts to stop the redevelopment permit, they request was denied. You can read about that here.

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These are just a sample of the resources available about the McDougall Church Fire and restoration. Many more are available from different news outlets.

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