Economic diversification for the Fort McKay First Nation is taking the form of East Pine, a housing development partnership that will see affordable housing units as part of a multi-family residential complex built just south of Edmonton. Fort McKay Chief Mel Grandjamb says council recognized the need to diversify an economy that depended too heavily on the oil industry. “When we got into council we understood that a majority of our revenue was coming from oil sands operations. A couple of dips (in) 2006 and 2016 showed the oil prices fluctuating which meant that when oil prices dropped our revenues dropped. So it s very important for us to diversify because we re running a government so it s very important that we have a steady stream of revenue,” said Grandjamb.