▁to ▁establish ▁the ▁park ▁could ▁be ▁submitted ▁for ▁government ▁consideration ▁in ▁ 1 9 7 6 . ▁ ▁Ann oun cing ▁the ▁park ▁One ▁of ▁the ▁most ▁vocal ▁pro ponents ▁of ▁the ▁proposed ▁park ▁was ▁the ▁nearby ▁town ▁of ▁Lac ▁La ▁B iche . ▁The ▁town ▁felt ▁significant ▁job ▁growth ▁and ▁tour ist ▁re venue ▁would ▁stem ▁from ▁the ▁creation ▁of ▁the ▁park . ▁The ▁public ▁announ cement , ▁in ▁January ▁ 1 9 9 2 , ▁that ▁the ▁park ▁proposal ▁had ▁been ▁accepted ▁gar ner ed ▁positive ▁reaction ▁from ▁the ▁community . ▁Mayor ▁Tom ▁Mac c ag no ▁and ▁M LA ▁for ▁Ath ab as ca - L ac ▁La ▁B iche ▁Mike ▁Card inal ▁joint ly ▁made ▁the ▁announ cement ▁at ▁a ▁local ▁fish ▁f ry , ▁which ▁was ▁being ▁held ▁to ▁celebr ate ▁the ▁creation ▁of ▁Lak eland . ▁At ▁the ▁announ cement , ▁the ▁Hon ou rable ▁Mike ▁Card inal ▁announced ▁the ▁park ▁could ▁attract ▁" up ▁to ▁one ▁million ▁tour ists ▁ann ually ." ▁ ▁Develop ing ▁the ▁park ▁The ▁facilities ▁at ▁Lak eland ▁Provin cial ▁Park ▁were ▁constructed ▁in ▁part ▁by ▁First ▁Nation ▁and ▁M ét is ▁prison ▁in m ates . ▁During ▁the ▁early ▁ 1 9 9 0 s ▁the ▁Government ▁of ▁Al berta ▁was ▁experiment ing ▁with ▁changes ▁to ▁the ▁criminal ▁justice ▁system ▁that ▁would ▁bring ▁more ▁M ét is ▁and ▁First ▁Nation ▁individuals ▁into ▁polic ing ▁and ▁legal ▁roles , ▁including ▁jud ges ▁and ▁just ices ▁of ▁the ▁peace . ▁Another ▁component ▁of