Groups sign agreement to refurbish Amber Valley cultural centre, preserve history

An agreement has been signed between Alberta's oldest Black settlement and the local Métis community in an effort to restore a centrepiece in the community and strengthen the area's cultural preservation. 

The Athabasca Landing Métis Community Association and the Amber Valley Community Association signed a Memorandum of Understanding at the end of 2021 to work together on some important upgrades to the cultural centre including a new furnace and a cistern. Planning is now underway to help restore the community cornerstone. 

The Amber Valley Cultural Centre sits just off Highway 55 in northern Alberta. Amber Valley, about 170 kilometres north of Edmonton, is now just a few hundred people and has been referred to as a ghost town. 

Gilbert Williams, board member for the community association, helped start the museum over 30 years ago.

His dad homesteaded in Amber Valley in 1924. His mother is a Métis woman from Lac La Biche. 

Williams said became engrossed in the area's history because of the stories his dad would tell about the community. He spends his spare hours offering tours of the museum nestled inside a few small rooms in the cultural centre.

"Our museum has got as big as it's going to get. And we now have to turn down donations because we're just not big enough," Williams said. 

Watch: A new agreement signals changes at site of Alberta's oldest Black community

The MOU is meant to help update the building. The community centre uses well water that isn't potable and is causing the toilets and sink to become rusty. The building's sewer system isn't draining properly, causing a foul odour to permeate the washrooms.

The furnace also needs to be replaced. 

The cultural centre is a fixture in the community. There are annual chicken dinners, fundraisers, country jam nights, weddings, family reunions and museum tours. 

Without help from the Métis association there wouldn't be enough money to upgrade the centre, Williams said.

"I'm just trying to keep the history going. It's been a project for me," said Williams. 

Once the refurbishment is finished, Williams would like to look at expanding the museum, which is currently at capacity. In particular, he would like to highlight the history of the region's Métis people in the museum.